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Japanese Police Formally Arrest Suspect in Deadly 2019 Arson Attack

VOA News

   Nearlyayear after 36people were killed in a raging fire at an animation
   studio, Japanese policehaveformallyarrestedthe man suspected ofsetting
   the fire.

   Kyoto police carried 42-year-old Shinji Aoba on a stretcher from a
   hospital Wednesday and transferred to a police station for further
   questioningon arson and murder charges. Aoba had been hospitalized
   since the attack,sufferingdeep scarson hisfaceand hands.

   Witnessestold police Aoba broke into the entrance of Kyoto
   Animationstudio, poured flammable liquid on the floor and set it on
   firewhile shouting "Die!"He reportedly set the fire because he believed
   the studio hadplagiarizedhis novel.

   The attack was the deadliest violent crime in Japan in decades,
   andshocked animation fansall over the world. Kyoto Animation has
   produced several anime films and television showsthat havegained huge
   audiences both in Japan and internationally.

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