TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 66-year-old man for allegedly entering an area where a fire that broke out on Tuesday in the Golden Gai district of Shinjuku Ward, reports the Asahi Shimbun (April 13).
At approximately 12:30 p.m., Hiroshi Haruna allegedly entered a building in the district on the ground floor and moved upstairs to a second-floor restaurant which was undergoing remodeling. He departed the building after spending five minutes inside. The fire is believed to have started one hour later inside the restaurant.
Haruna, who has been charged with trespassing, admits to the allegations. The suspect became a person of interest after the examination of security camera footage.
Within five hours, about 40 trucks from the Tokyo Fire Department had extinguished the blaze. The fire burned approximately 300 square meters of space over three buildings in the district, which includes narrow rows of approximately 300 bars and eateries.
A 64-year-old woman received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Police may apply charges of arson to Haruna upon further investigation.
