New footage appears to show arson suspect in Kyoto 2 days before attack

UJI, Kyoto -- Newly acquired security footage shows a man believed to be the suspect in the arson attack on a Kyoto Animation studio that left 34 dead walking along a street here in western Japan two days before the fire.

The man, who appears to be 41-year-old suspect Shinji Aoba, was filmed by a security camera set on a real estate agent's building about 3.8 kilometers south of the head office of Kyoto Animation Co. at around 2 p.m. on July 16.

According to Kyoto Prefectural Police, a man believed to be Aoba was confirmed to have stayed at an internet cafe near JR Kyoto Station from around 10:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. on that day. He is then thought to have traveled to the city of Uji.

The man captured on video is wearing a red T-shirt and jeans, as was Aoba when he was detained by police after he allegedly carried out the arson attack on the 1st Studio of Kyoto Animation in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward at around 10:30 a.m. on July 18. The man, with a backpack on his back, is seen looking around and downward while running his hand through his hair.

(Japanese original by Sakae Kato and Hiroshi Muramatsu, Osaka City News Department)