Kyoto Animation fire: Police name arson suspect after blaze in studio leaves 33 dead

Police have named an arson suspect after a blaze in a Japanese animation studio left 33 dead and 36 more injured.

The devastating fire at one of Japan’s top animation studio broke out on Thursday morning and has been described as “too appalling for words” by the country’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japanese Police confirmed the man suspected to have started the fire has now been identified.

Local Japanese media reported the suspect told the police he allegedly started the fire because the studio "stole his idea for a novel".

Shinji Aoba, 41, has been named as a suspect, but has not been arrested, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday.

Firefighters found 33 bodies inside the three-story building, some on the stairs to the roof, where they apparently collapsed while trying to get out.

Japanese media reported the fire might have been set near the front door, forcing people to find other ways out.

The flames broke out at 10.30am local time. A Kyoto prefectural police spokesman said: “A man threw liquid and set fire to it.”

Twenty people were found dead on the third floor, with another 13 on the first and second. Thirty-six others were injured, some critically.

Survivors said the alleged attacker was not a colleague.

The studio in Japan’s former capital, known as KyoAni, was founded in 1981 and has produced several hit animation series and films, including Sound! Euphonium and K-On!