Five people died Tuesday in an arson attack at a branch office of consumer credit firm Takefuji Corp. in Aomori Prefecture.
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| Firefighters examine a branch office of Takefuji Corp. in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. |
The fire was started by an unidentified man who walked into the office in Hirosaki and demanded money while pouring a gasoline-like liquid around the room, police said.
The suspect, apparently in his 40s and wearing light-blue clothes, entered the outlet shortly before 10:50 a.m. and quickly fled after starting the blaze.
The office was nearly completely destroyed, and the man is still at large, police said.