Imagine pure pandemonium, as people are running around frantically trying to escape a moving subway train. People are dropping all around and there is no place to go. What they once thought to be just another daily commute, turned out to be a day that would change their lives forever. No one had anticipated Sarin gas being on those trains. Who had committed such a despicable act? It would not be long before police officials would figure out who. While Aum Shinrikyo also attempted attacks with botulin toxin and anthrax spores, they have an extensive history with the use of sarin gas. Aum Shinrikyo facilities were raided by law enforcement where high-end chemical producing equipment was seized, cult members drove a converted truck into
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The cult’s belief system is based around a mixture of Buddhism, Hinduism, and an apocalyptic approach. Originally starting out as a peaceful cult, it began to take a turn for the worst in 1987 (Danzig, 2011, p. 8). Shoko Asahara preached life after the apocalypse should people follow Aum Shinrikyo. Asahara predicted the end of the world would occur sometime between 1996 and 2003. He preached to his followers that the United States would start World War III which in turn would lead to the end of their world. Aum Shinrikyo is a very well financed cult, making most of their profit from legitimate businesses such as electronic stores, restaurants, and donations from wealthy followers. During the 1990’s, the group was significantly larger than it is today, with numbers reportedly in the 40,000’s (Pangi, 2002, p. 422). Aum Shinrikyo’s 1995 sarin attack on Tokyo’s subway was not their first attack. Aum Shinrikyo started conducting attacks as early as 1990, first experimenting with biological weapons. The group made multiple attempts to release biological agents such as anthrax spores, botulin, and Q fever. It has been reported that the group conducted as many nine biological attacks between 1990 and their 1995 Tokyo attack (Fletcher, 2012). When biological weapons were not working, the group then turned to chemical weapons as a means to carry out their attacks. Soon the religious cult would find a love for sarin
The cult’s belief system is based around a mixture of Buddhism, Hinduism, and an apocalyptic approach. Originally starting out as a peaceful cult, it began to take a turn for the worst in 1987 (Danzig, 2011, p. 8). Shoko Asahara preached life after the apocalypse should people follow Aum Shinrikyo. Asahara predicted the end of the world would occur sometime between 1996 and 2003. He preached to his followers that the United States would start World War III which in turn would lead to the end of their world. Aum Shinrikyo is a very well financed cult, making most of their profit from legitimate businesses such as electronic stores, restaurants, and donations from wealthy followers. During the 1990’s, the group was significantly larger than it is today, with numbers reportedly in the 40,000’s (Pangi, 2002, p. 422). Aum Shinrikyo’s 1995 sarin attack on Tokyo’s subway was not their first attack. Aum Shinrikyo started conducting attacks as early as 1990, first experimenting with biological weapons. The group made multiple attempts to release biological agents such as anthrax spores, botulin, and Q fever. It has been reported that the group conducted as many nine biological attacks between 1990 and their 1995 Tokyo attack (Fletcher, 2012). When biological weapons were not working, the group then turned to chemical weapons as a means to carry out their attacks. Soon the religious cult would find a love for sarin