Man admits to starting fire in Shibuya crossing in Tokyo

TOKYO – A man turned himself in at a police station in Tokyo on Friday, claiming responsibility for igniting a flammable liquid a short time earlier in the iconic crossing outside Shibuya Station, the police said.

They said that at around 9 p.m., a man scattered a liquid on the ground in the crossing before setting it on fire with a lighter. About 20 minutes later, a man in his 50s who is believed to be the person responsible showed up at the nearby police station, they added.

The fire was put out by police officers and no one was hurt, according to the police. The man has admitted to starting the fire in the crossing, they said.

“I saw smoke go up in the scramble crossing, and when I approached, I saw a fire in the middle of it,” said a man who described witnessing the incident. “Three to four police officers were putting it out.”