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Aum Shinrikyo: Japan executes cult leader Shoko Asahara | Aum Shinrikyo: Japan executes cult leader Shoko Asahara |
(35 minutes later) | |
The leader of Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult which carried out a deadly nerve gas attack on the Tokyo underground in 1995 has been executed, Japanese media report. | The leader of Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult which carried out a deadly nerve gas attack on the Tokyo underground in 1995 has been executed, Japanese media report. |
The sarin attack, Japan's worst terror incident, killed 13 people and injured thousands more. | The sarin attack, Japan's worst terror incident, killed 13 people and injured thousands more. |
Another 12 Aum Shinrikyo members are awaiting execution. | |
The executions had been postponed until all those convicted had completed their final appeals. | The executions had been postponed until all those convicted had completed their final appeals. |
That happened in January. | That happened in January. |
What was the Tokyo attack? | What was the Tokyo attack? |
On 20 March 1995, cult members released the sarin on the subway in the Japanese capital. They left punctured bags filled with liquid nerve agent on train lines going through Tokyo's political district. | On 20 March 1995, cult members released the sarin on the subway in the Japanese capital. They left punctured bags filled with liquid nerve agent on train lines going through Tokyo's political district. |
Witnesses described noticing the leaking packages and soon afterwards feeling stinging fumes hitting their eyes. | Witnesses described noticing the leaking packages and soon afterwards feeling stinging fumes hitting their eyes. |
The toxin struck victims down in a matter of seconds, leaving them choking and vomiting, some blinded and paralysed. Thirteen people died. | The toxin struck victims down in a matter of seconds, leaving them choking and vomiting, some blinded and paralysed. Thirteen people died. |
In the following months, members of the cult carried out several failed attempts at releasing hydrogen cyanide in various stations. | In the following months, members of the cult carried out several failed attempts at releasing hydrogen cyanide in various stations. |
The attack shocked Japan, a country that prided itself on low crime rates and social cohesion. | The attack shocked Japan, a country that prided itself on low crime rates and social cohesion. |
Scores of Aum members have faced trial over the attack - 13 were sentenced to death, including Asahara. | Scores of Aum members have faced trial over the attack - 13 were sentenced to death, including Asahara. |
Another six are serving life sentences. | Another six are serving life sentences. |
What is the Aum Shinrikyo cult? | What is the Aum Shinrikyo cult? |
The cult, whose name means "supreme truth", began in the 1980s as a spiritual group mixing Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, later working in elements of apocalyptic Christian prophesies. | The cult, whose name means "supreme truth", began in the 1980s as a spiritual group mixing Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, later working in elements of apocalyptic Christian prophesies. |
The group's founder, Shoko Asahara, also known as Chizuo Matsumoto, declared himself to be both Christ and the first "enlightened one" since Buddha. | The group's founder, Shoko Asahara, also known as Chizuo Matsumoto, declared himself to be both Christ and the first "enlightened one" since Buddha. |
Aum Shinrikyo gained official status as a religious organisation in Japan in 1989 and picked up a sizable global following. At its peak, Asahara had tens of thousands of followers worldwide. | Aum Shinrikyo gained official status as a religious organisation in Japan in 1989 and picked up a sizable global following. At its peak, Asahara had tens of thousands of followers worldwide. |
The group gradually became a paranoid doomsday cult, convinced the world was about to end in a global war and that only they would survive. | The group gradually became a paranoid doomsday cult, convinced the world was about to end in a global war and that only they would survive. |
The cult went underground after the 1995 attack, but did not disappear, eventually renaming itself Aleph or Hikari no Wa. | The cult went underground after the 1995 attack, but did not disappear, eventually renaming itself Aleph or Hikari no Wa. |
Aum Shinrikyo is designated a terrorist organisation in the US and many other countries, but Aleph and Hikari no Wa are both legal in Japan, although designated as "dangerous religions" subject to surveillance. | Aum Shinrikyo is designated a terrorist organisation in the US and many other countries, but Aleph and Hikari no Wa are both legal in Japan, although designated as "dangerous religions" subject to surveillance. |
It still has followers both in Japan and also worldwide, in particular in some former Eastern Bloc countries. | It still has followers both in Japan and also worldwide, in particular in some former Eastern Bloc countries. |
In 2016, police in Russia conducted a number of raids on suspected cult members in Moscow and St Petersburg. | In 2016, police in Russia conducted a number of raids on suspected cult members in Moscow and St Petersburg. |
Why are has the execution been so delayed? | Why are has the execution been so delayed? |
In Japan, death sentences are not carried out until the verdict against all accused and accomplices are final, with no pending appeals left against any of the group. | In Japan, death sentences are not carried out until the verdict against all accused and accomplices are final, with no pending appeals left against any of the group. |
The trials against the cult members only wrapped up in January this year after the supreme court upheld the verdict against one member sentenced to life in prison. | The trials against the cult members only wrapped up in January this year after the supreme court upheld the verdict against one member sentenced to life in prison. |
Since an effective moratorium ended in 2010, Japan has executed as many as eight people a year. | Since an effective moratorium ended in 2010, Japan has executed as many as eight people a year. |
The death penalty is only used for serious cases of murder and is carried out by hanging. | The death penalty is only used for serious cases of murder and is carried out by hanging. |