Aum followers down by 10%

Japan Times / August 16, 2000

The Aum Shinrikyo religious group had 1,140 members as of Aug. 1, down 10% from three months ago, according to a report the group submitted Tuesday to the Public Security Investigation Agency.

The number of followers living at Aum facilities was 549, down 17%, while the number of outside members was 591, up seven, according to the report. The group has 11 facilities in Japan, which is unchanged, the report says.

The report is the third of its kind. Under a law enacted last December to crack down on the group, Aum is required to file a report every three months detailing the number of its followers, their names and addresses, the group's properties and other information.

Aum founder Shoko Asahara is on trial in a number of criminal cases, including one for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, which killed 12 people and injured thousands.