Cult Guru's Sickening Crimes

PA News/February 27, 2004

March 20, 1995: Sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo tube network, killing 12 and injuring thousands.

February 28, 1995: Abduction and murder of notary clerk Kiyoshi Kariya, whose sister wanted to leave Asahara's Aum Shinrikyo cult.

January 4, 1995: Attempt to kill Hiroyuki Nagaoka, head of cult victims' association, with VX gas.

December 12, 1994: Murder of Tadahito Hamaguchi with VX gas for suspicion of spying on cult.

December 2, 1994: Attempted murder of Noboru Mizuno with VX gas for helping family of Aum member who wanted to leave the cult.

July 1994: Murder of Aum-member Toshio Tomita, suspected of spying on cult.

June 27, 1994: Sarin attack on the central Japanese city of Matsumoto, killing seven people - it was aimed at judges expected to rule against cult in a court dispute.

May 9, 1994: Attempted murder of anti-Aum lawyer Taro Takimoto with sarin gas.

January 30, 1994: Murder of Kotaro Ochida, who helped an Aum member escape.

November 4, 1989: Murder of anti-cult lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, his wife and one-year-old child.

February 1989: Murder of cult member Shuji Taguchi for wanting to leave the group. Construction of sarin nerve gas production plant. Manufacture of guns.