The Associated Press reported on Sunday that a 61-year-old man was a prime suspect in the Osaka mental health clinic fire that killed 24 people.
The fire is being treated as an murder case and the primary suspect is Morio Tanimoto. Tanimoto, who is currently being treated and is in serious condition after being rescued from the fire, has not been arrested or charged.
An anonymous official at the local police department told the AP that investigators used security cameras to track the suspect and searched the home of Tanimoto on Saturday, where they found a patient card for the clinic.
People who had recently taken sick leave and were about to return to work were attending counseling sessions on the day of the fire.
The paper bag placed on the floor by the man who placed it next to the heater was found to have a highly flammable liquid in it.
The fire's speed and traces left in the clinic led investigators to believe the fire was set.
The victims could not escape because the stairway was not accessible due to the fire, according to the Minister. Kaneko ordered a nationwide inspection of nearly 30,000 buildings with only one stairway.
