Fire tears through Japanese psychiatric clinic, killing 19 in possible arson attack

Tokyo — Japanese police were investigating a fire that swept through a clinic on Friday, killing 19 people, as possible arson. At least eight more people were injured by the blaze that tore through the clinic in the western city of Osaka. If confirmed as arson, it would be one of the worst such attacks in Japan in years.

Scores of firefighters and rescue workers converged on the busy street soon after the fire broke out in an eight-story building. The fire originated on the fourth floor, in a psychiatric clinic, just after it opened for business.

It took fire crews about 30 minutes to quash the flames, but multiple victims were left trapped in the smoke-filled clinic.