Kyoto Animation arson attack suspect arrested

May 28, 2020 | News On Japan

May 28, 2020 (NHK) - Police in Kyoto, western Japan, have arrested a suspect in last year's deadly arson attack on Kyoto Animation's studio. They say the suspect has admitted that the allegations against him are true.

Aoba Shinji was arrested on Wednesday morning at a hospital in Kyoto City. He had been receiving treatment there for burns on his body. He is 42 years old.

He is suspected of starting a gasoline fire at the Kyoto studio on July 18. The blaze left 36 people dead and 33 injured. All the victims were employees of the studio.

Aoba was carried on a stretcher from the hospital to the police station. The police then sent the case to prosecutors, even though Aoba was still in their custody. This is unusual in Japan, as police normally transfer accused people from police stations to prosecutors' offices, when cases are sent to prosecutors.

Police officials spoke at a news conference on Wednesday. They said the suspect told them that he thought he could kill many people using gasoline.

They said Aoba is steadily recovering, but is still unable to eat or walk by himself. The officials added that he has been responding to investigative inquires in a calm manner.

They said Aoba's arrest was postponed because his treatment took longer than expected. They added that the coronavirus outbreak further delayed his arrest.

Aoba claimed during voluntary questioning before his arrest that he attacked the studio because it had stolen a novel he had written.

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