TOKYO, July 20 (Xinhua) - Japanese police on Saturday obtained arrest warrant for the man who was apprehended over a deadly arson attack on a Kyoto Animation Co. studio, public broadcaster NHK reported.

An anime cartoon drawing is laid amongst flowers and tributes near the Kyoto Animation Co studio building after an arson attack, on July 19, 2019 in Kyoto, Japan. (Photo: VCG)

Shinji Aoba, 41, was taken to a hospital in Kyoto after allegedly setting fire to the three-storey studio building with gasoline, which killed 34 people.

According to investigative sources, police have already obtained arrest warrant for Aoba and are waiting for him to recover from the serious burns he suffered before arresting him.

He was transferred to a hospital in Osaka Prefecture by helicopter earlier on Saturday to receive better medical treatment, police said.

The police believe Aoba carried gasoline in two 20-liter cans to the studio on a cart and used about 10 liters to set the fire, the sources said. They have found the containers with gasoline remaining inside near the site.

While his motive is unclear at the moment, he was quoted as telling the police that he set the fire because the company "stole a novel," claiming his ideas had been plagiarized.