Details emerged Friday of the horrifying blaze that ripped through a Japanese anime firm, killing dozens including people who tried in vain to reach the roof, but the motive for the suspected arson remained unclear.
Eyewitnesses described a fire that was like "looking at hell," after a man apparently doused the production company office in the city of Kyoto with flammable liquid and set it alight.
Experts and firefighters said the blaze would have raged uncontrollably throughout the structure almost instantly, leaving the dozens of people inside with almost no chance of escape.
That was borne out by the grim toll: 33 dead, with dozens more injured, including several in critical condition.
The attack appeared to be among the worst violent crimes in decades in famously safe Japan.
It sparked an outpouring of grief in Japan and beyond, as fans of the country's famed anime industry expressed horror at the enormous loss.
On Friday people were laid flowers and said prayers at the charred Kyoto Animation building.
"These young people were the age of my grandchildren," 78-year-old Sachiko Konishi told AFP of those killed in the attack, most of whom are presumed to be young employees of the company.
"If my grandchildren died under circumstances like this, I wouldn't want to go on living."
"It was like I was looking at hell."
Some reports suggested the man believed the company had stolen his work, with the local Kyoto Shimbun newspaper reporting that he told police: "I set the fire because they stole novels."
"I still can't believe it. I can't understand why people like them had to suffer such a fate."
"Smoke and flames would have risen up instantaneously."
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