TOKYO—At least 24 people are dead or presumed dead in a suspected arson attack at an animation studio in the western city of Kyoto, one of the worst violent attacks in Japan in decades. Police said they detained a man on suspicion of starting the fire at a studio of Kyoto Animation Co. on Thursday morning. A fire department official said 14 people were confirmed dead and at least 10 others were in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. The president of Kyoto Animation, Hideaki Hatta, said in a televised interview the company had received death threats for several years. Kyoto Animation, founded in 1981, is one of Japan’s lesser well-known animation and comic-book studios, but has had hit productions with stories about high-school girls.

Source: Wall Street Journal July 18, 2019 08:56 UTC