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40-Year-Old Arrested for Threatening Square Enix With Repeat of Kyoto Animation Fire

Police in Shinjuku, Tokyo arrested a 40-year-old man who works in the delivery industry for allegedly sending a threat and creating forcible obstruction of business at game developer Square Enix. The man allegedly sent a threatening message to the Shinjuku-based company through its website's inquiry form on July 23.

According to police, the man demanded money back from a game in his message and threatened to repeat the fire at Kyoto Animation's 1st studio building on July 18. The man reportedly admitted to police that he was angry after losing a game and decided to send the message. Police noted that the game in question is a smartphone game that the suspect is registered for. Police also stated that a search of the man's house did not uncover gasoline or related materials.

In a similar incident, police arrested a 25-year-old male nursing home employee on March 29 for sending a threatening message to Square Enix. In the message, the man threatened to kill the company's staff.

Additionally, police arrested a 63-year-old dispatch worker in Sapporo, Hokkaido for sending a threatening message referencing Kyoto Animation through the LINE messaging and social media app in July. The suspect allegedly sent a message to his former superior, a 36-year-old male nursing home employee, through LINE on July 25 at around 10:35 a.m. The message said, "I'm off to get revenge. Maybe it'll be the Hokkaido version of KyoAni?"

According to police, the suspect admitted to sending the message for revenge but stated that it was a joke. The suspect was reportedly let go from his work at the nursing home in June due to a poor work attitude.

Sources: FNN, Jiji Press, The Mainichi Shimbun via Hachima Kikō, Siliconera