Japanese animation studio targeted in deadly suspected arson attack

As many as 23 people have been killed, and dozens more injured, after an apparent arson attack on Kyoto Animation's studio in Japan.

Thirteen people have been confirmed dead and another 10 are presumed dead, with at least 36 people injured, after an attack on the popular animation studio's three-story building in Kyoto that had more than 70 people in it at the time, The Associated Press reports.

The fire began at about 10:30 a.m. local time after a man reportedly entered the building and spread a flammable liquid while shouting, "Die!", The New York Times reports. A 41-year-old man is in custody, and per the AP, he is not an employee. Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hatta says the company had received threats, The Washington Post reports.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

This attack, if 23 people are ultimately confirmed dead, would be Japan's deadliest mass killing since 19 people were killed in a knife attack in Tokyo in 2016, the AP writes. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday called the attack "so horrifying that I am at a loss for words," the Times reports, offering his "deepest condolences to the victims."