Osaka arson suspect suffering from severe brain damage

Dec 28, 2021 | News On Japan

Dec 28, 2021 (Japan Times) - Morio Tanimoto, the 61-year-old suspect in a deadly arson attack at a mental health clinic in the city of Osaka earlier this month, suffered severe brain damage in the incident, investigative sources said Monday.

“If he has severe carbon monoxide poisoning, he may not be able to communicate even if he survives,” a medical expert said.

The Osaka Prefectural Police have no plans to question Tanimoto at the moment and it may not be able to file criminal charges against him due to the brain damage, the sources said.

Around 10:20 a.m. on Dec. 17, Tanimoto allegedly started a fire at the clinic located on the fourth floor of a building in the city’s Kita Ward.

The suspect and 26 people were sent to hospital with no vital signs. Of them, 25 were later confirmed dead. Their deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Tanimoto and one victim were resuscitated. The suspect has remained unconscious, however, suffering severe inhalation burns and carbon monoxide poisoning.

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