The man who believed to have started the fire at an animation studio in Japan's Kyoto has a criminal record, Russia's Sputnik News said, citing sources in Japan.

The report further said that that the the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Shinji Aoba by the the Japan Police, was indicted in 2012 for committing a robbery at a convenience store. He also served a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years, said the Russian news agency.

The suspect has a history of being treated for mental health issues and lives on welfare, the news outlet said. He is currently receiving treatment for the burns caused by the fire and will be questioned by the police.

Thirty three people were killed in the fire on Thursday at the Kyoto Animation studio. Experts say the fire <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spiral-stairs-no-sprinklers-may-have-contributed-to-deadly-japan-fire-237105">spread so fast</a> not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it.

Shouting "die" and screaming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-arsonist-believed-his-novel-was-stolen-by-japanese-studio-report-237091">accusations of plagiarism</a> sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze.

That alone could have been enough to make it impossible for victims to escape, architects said.

Watch -&nbsp;Kyoto Animation studio: Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 30 dead

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kyoto-animation-studio-suspected-arson-attack-in-japan-leaves-at-least-30-dead-236927/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But an open, three-storey spiral staircase inside the building created an especially deadly environment for fire.

"The structure of the building was that it had one spiral staircase penetrating through three floors acting as a chimney, the most effective way of starting a fire," said Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect.

"Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb. Most died of smoke."

The building did not have sprinklers, nor indoor fire hydrants, but it did not have to have them under Japan's fire code, a Kyoto Fire Department official said.

An inspection of the building in October had found no fire safety problems, he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The man who believed to have started the fire at an animation studio in Japan's Kyoto has a criminal record, Russia's Sputnik News said, citing sources in Japan.

The man who believed to have started the fire at an animation studio in Japan's Kyoto has a criminal record, Russia's Sputnik News said, citing sources in Japan. The report further said that that the the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Shinji Aoba by the the Japan Police, was indicted in 2012 for committing a robbery at a convenience store. He also served a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years, said the Russian news agency. The suspect has a history of being treated for mental health issues and lives on welfare, the news outlet said. He is currently receiving treatment for the burns caused by the fire and will be questioned by the police. Thirty three people were killed in the fire on Thursday at the Kyoto Animation studio. Experts say the fire spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it. Shouting "die" and screaming accusations of plagiarism sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze. That alone could have been enough to make it impossible for victims to escape, architects said. Watch - Kyoto Animation studio: Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 30 dead But an open, three-storey spiral staircase inside the building created an especially deadly environment for fire. "The structure of the building was that it had one spiral staircase penetrating through three floors acting as a chimney, the most effective way of starting a fire," said Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect. "Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb. Most died of smoke." The building did not have sprinklers, nor indoor fire hydrants, but it did not have to have them under Japan's fire code, a Kyoto Fire Department official said. An inspection of the building in October had found no fire safety problems, he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Kyoto Animation fire suspect has criminal record, was treated for mental health issues: Report

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Kyoto Animation fire suspect has criminal record, was treated for mental health issues: Report