A Japanese cult known for microwaving its enemies caused terror on three Tokyo subway trains in an attack that saw thousands severely vomit, get blinded or even be paralysed with 13 people losing their lives.
The notorious Aum Shinrikyo co-ordinated a sickening attack that affected 5,800 passengers over three trains on March 20 in 1995 as they let off a nerve agent called Sarin, which was developed by the Nazis.
Members of the cult boarded trains at morning rush hour with the packages, but they are reported to have been leaking so it is unknown whether they were at their intended targets.
In just a matter of seconds, the nerve agent caused havoc, leaving passengers choking and vomiting with some even reporting to have been blinded and paralysed.
The results caused Japan’s worst domestic terror attack and was caused by the Aum Shinrikyo, also known as just Aum, and their leader Shoko Asahara.
The founder started the cult in the 1980s and it has been described as a spiritual group incorporating a mix of both Hindu and Buddhist beliefs.
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Asahara, real name was Chizuo Matsumoto, claimed to be both the reincarnation of Christ and was the next “enlightened one” since Buddha.
Before the attack, the group was thought to be just an obscure cult who believed the world would end.
Once Aum carried out their plan, the police quickly investigated the group after they were linked to the use of the nerve agent on the train.
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Police made a shocking discovery at a complex used by Aum, which was located at the base of the famous Mount Fuji, that saw a large microwave incinerator.
The complex was said to be a laboratory named Satian Six, which was also where the cult’s scientist Hideo Murai made the Sarin.
Investigators believe that the unit had been designed with powerful microwaves connected to drums and resulted in it acting like a large high-temperature microwave.
It was also revealed that more than 30 of the cult's followers went missing.
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It is believed the cult would burn bodies in the microwave, which could be done in a matter of minutes.
Asahara, who also claimed he could levitate, was executed over the chemical attack with six of his followers in July 2018.
The 63-year-old was also thought to be guilty of several crimes along with his followers, which resulted in the deaths of 29 people.
The cult gained a lot of traction at its peak in 1989 with huge support in Russia.
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However, prior to the attack in 1995, Aum was accused of deceiving recruits and forcing them to donate money and reportedly killed a member who tried to leave.
Aum went underground following the death of its leader but cult members have reportedly stayed activity, particularly in Russia, who declared the group a terrorist organisation in 2016.
There was also an attack in Tokyo in 2019 where a man Kazuhiro Kusakabe, believed to be an Aum sympathiser, rammed pedestrians, referring to revenge for the execution of Aum Shinrikyo members.
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