Several dead after arson attack on animation studio in Japan

      A man was seen pouring petrol inside the building before the fire started

At least 12 people are missing feared dead and dozens more are injured after a man burst into an animation studio and started a fire early this morning.

Some people are in a critical condition following the blaze at the three-storey Kyoto Animation building in Uji city in southern Kyoto, Japan. The suspect spread an unidentified liquid that set off the blaze, Kyoto prefecture police and fire department officials said. One person died of severe burns, said fire department official Satoshi Fujiwara. Ten of the injured were in a serious condition, many of them suffering from burns, he said. The suspect was also injured and taken to a hospital, officials said. Police are investigating the man on suspicion of arson.

      Several people are dead and many are injured with some described as critical (Picture: AP)

       Firefighters are continuing to sift through the wreckage looking for victims (Picture: AP)

Footage on Japan’s NHK national television showed grey smoke billowing from the charred building. Rescue officials set up a tent outside the studio building to provide first aid to the injured. Fire department officials say more than 70 people were in the building at the time of the fire, but most of them ran outside. The fire was almost extinguished hours later, and firefighters were searching for anyone left behind. Kyoto Animation, better known as KyoAni, was founded in 1981 as an animation and comic book production studio and is known for mega-hit stories featuring high school girls, including Lucky Star, K-On! and Haruhi Suzumiya.

       The fire at the Kyoto Animation studio injured more than 30 people, 10 of them seriously (Picture: AP)

The studio produces the ‘Sound! Euphonium’ series and its ‘Free! Road to the World – The Dream’ movie is due for release this month (Picture: Getty)

Source: Metro co uk