Tokyo Subway Gas Attack

On March 20, 1995 the Tokyo Subway sarin gas attack occured killing nearly a dozen people and incapacitating or injuring approximately 5000 others. The incident involved six devices; disguised as a soft drink can, a briefcase, a white plastic bag and a gas can wrapped in newspaper. There were set to go off on five different subway cars on three different lines; Marunouchi, Hibiya and Chiyoda, all of which were on route to Tokyo's government center Kasumigaseki, where the national police headquarters are. The most likely responsible for the incident was AUM Shinrikyo, a religous cult headed by Shoko Asahara.

There were many other incidences prior to the major subway attack when gas was released or canisters found containing gas, in most cases links could be made to AUM Shinrikyo. The most deadly was a sarin gas leak at the AUM Shinrikyo compound at Matsumoto in June 1994, killing seven and injuring about 200. The cult played off the incident claiming that the chemical precursors were being used for industrial purposes, that no one within the organization had the knowledge to produce sarin, and that the whole matter was conspired by the US. These statements are known to be false because the cult had recruited intelligent collage students, many of whom graduated at the top of their class. They also recruited government officials, and wealthy individuals who could produce sarin. The cult compound was raided two days after the March 20 subway attack in which many more indicators of sarin gas production and storage were found, however, a definitive link to the cult could not be made. Still many of those higher up in the cult were charged with lessor crimes surrounding the primary incident, including kidnapping.
By: Jan Olofsson, June 2001 <<back | top