Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Osaka Game Company With Arson

A 25-year-old man has been arrested after sending threatening messages to Osaka-based visual novel company Visual Arts. One of the company’s brands, Key, had its visual novels adapted into anime by Kyoto Animation.

According to FNN and MBS (via ANN), suspect Toshiki Benikawa, from Shizuoka Prefecture, allegedly sent messages threatening arson and murder to the company and employees last month. On Twitter, he also wrote, “I’m getting the gasoline ready.”

Benikawa has admitted to threatening Visual Arts.

In July, an arsonist set fire to Kyoto Animation, killing 35 employees. In August, a 40-year-old man was arrested after threatening Square Enix with “a repeat of Kyoto Animation.”