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Suspect ID'd, Appeared to Have Planned Japan Arson Attack

Reuters

   Updated at 5:20 a.m., July 29, 2019.

   KYOTO, JAPAN -- A man suspected of torching an animation studio in
   Japan, killing 33 people in the country's worst mass killing in two
   decades, planned the attack because he believed his novel had been
   plagiarized, media said Friday.

   The man, identified as Shinji Aoba, shouted "Die!" before dousing the
   entrance to Kyoto Animation's studio building with what appeared to be
   petrol and setting it ablaze around 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) Thursday,
   media said.

   The 41-year-old told police, "I did it," when he was detained, adding
   he had started the fire because he believed the studio had stolen his
   novel, Kyodo news said, citing investigative sources.

   Kyoto police declined to comment. Broadcaster Nippon TV said he was
   under an anesthesia after burning himself and police were unable to
   question him.

   The man "seemed to be discontented, he seemed to get angry, shouting
   something about how he had been plagiarized," a woman who saw the
   suspect being detained told reporters.

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