In a shocking incident at Takahama city hall in central Japan, a man in his 60s set himself on fire after pouring flammable liquid at the tax information counter. The man, who had been in a dispute with the city government over tax payments for two years, also injured three staff members with minor burns while attempting to restrain him.
Emergency services were called around 3 p.m. after reports of a fire caused by a gasoline-like substance. The man, arrested for trespassing, brandished a knife and demanded a specific staff member before igniting the flammable liquid on himself. He also stabbed himself in the abdomen with the knife, causing further harm.
Thankfully, the fire was extinguished within 20 minutes by staff using fire extinguishers. The police are investigating the contents of the bottle used by the man. This incident has left residents feeling uneasy, drawing comparisons to the tragic 2019 arson attack on Kyoto Animation studio.
© KYODO