Sarin Attacks

While the Aum Shinrikyo threat was mostly unknown to the Japanese police, Aum carried out attacks against political opponents with virtual impunity. The bodies of over a dozen of Aum's victims were  incinerated in specially made industrial sized microwave ovens. 

In June of 1994, using a car fitted with gas dispersal devices, Aum released sarin gas into a dormitory west of Tokyo. The dormitory was at the time being used by judges and court officials carrying out a case against Aum. 7 died in the attack and 150 were hospitalized. Aum was able to continue unhindered by police due to its constitutional protection as a religious entity. 

Less than a year later, on March 20th, Aum carried out it's largest attack to date. Five two person teams riding in on separate trains converged on Kasumigaseki station and secretly released sarin gas into the air.  The terrorists then ingested sarin antidote while the civilians scrambled to escape. Chaos ensued as the deadly gas caused passengers to lose their ability to breath. 12 died in the attack while over 5,500 were hospitalized. Though many suffered permanent damage, most mad full recoveries. A United States Senate subcommittee later estimated that had the gas been released more effectively, tens of thousands of subways passengers could have been killed.

After the attack, Aum was stripped of its religious protection and raided by the police. Shoko Asahara was taken into custody and has since then been sentenced to death by hanging (though his execution has been delayed as recently as 2012 due to further arrests of Aum members. 

Despite its terrorism ties, Aum Shinrikyo still exists today under the name of Aleph. Japanese officials have concluded that the new Aleph is not a threat (but is still under intense monitoring).