A fire thought to be an arson attack ripped through a Japanese animation studio Thursday, killing at least 33 people in what was the country’s deadliest blaze in nearly two decades.

A Japanese police official confirmed that 33 people died in the fire at Kyoto Animation Co. in the city of Kyoto, according to theNew York Times.

An additional 36 people were reportedly injured, including a 41-year-old male suspect, who allegedly poured a liquid around the studio before setting it aflame,CNNreported. The suspect was also allegedly carrying a backpack containing knives.

Local newspaperAsahi Shimbunreported that witnesses heard the suspect allegedly yell, “Die!” as he entered the building.

The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP

An aerial photo shows the fire site burning with fire in Kyoto on July 18, 2019. On the morning of 18th, a fire occurred with an explosion sound at a studio of an animation production company “Kyoto Animation” in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, and 38 people were injured, and about 10 of them were heavy unconscious people, and some of them died. The police have gotten hold of 41-year-old man and investigated on suspicion of an arson that the man scattered like gasoline. Kyoto Animation produced poplar animations such as “K-On!”, “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” and" Sound! Euphonium". ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )

JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty

This aerial view shows the rescue and recover scene after a fire at an animation company building killed some two dozen people in Kyoto on July 18, 2019. - At least 24 people were feared dead in a suspected arson attack on the animation company in the Japanese city of Kyoto on July 18, a fire department official told AFP. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT (Photo credit should read JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)

An aerial photo shows the fire site burning with fire in Kyoto on July 18, 2019. On the morning of 18th, a fire occurred with an explosion sound at a studio of an animation production company “Kyoto Animation” in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, and 38 people were injured, and about 10 of them were heavy unconscious people, and some of them died. The police have gotten hold of 41-year-old man and investigated on suspicion of an arson that the man scattered like gasoline. Kyoto Animation produced poplar animations such as “K-On!”, “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” and" Sound! Euphonium". ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )

“Why on earth did such violence have to be used?” Hatta said.

Seventy people were in the Kyoto offices when the blaze erupted around 10:30 a.m. local time, according to theTimes.

Kyoto fire department official Mikihide Daikoku told the AP firefighters found more than a dozen people presumed dead on the top floor of the three-story building, and others collapsed on stairs leading up to the roof.

Kyodo via AP

Photo taken July 18, 2019, shows the three-story studio of Kyoto Animation Co. in Kyoto after a man started a fire there. The studio is known for producing the popular TV animation series “K-On!!” and “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.” (Kyodo via AP Images) ==Kyodo

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The fire was reportedly the deadliest in the country since a 2001 blaze at a gambling club killed 44 people in Tokyo.

Kyoto Animation was founded in 1981, and has produced popular anime series likeK-On!,The Melancholy of Haruhi SuzumiyaandSound! Euphonium.

source: people.com