Aum Shinrikyo

Aum Shinrikyo is a Japanese spiritual cult responsible for the deadly sarin gas attack on three subway lines in Tokyo in 1995.

Formed in Japan in 1987, Aum Shinrikyo (Aum) is a religious organization with a belief system that mixes various religions – primarily Buddhism – with science fiction and the prophecies of Nostradamus. Aum aimed to control Japan, then the world, and subsequently create a global utopian society. Originally peaceful in nature, the group became increasingly dangerous and violent, seeking to actively bring about Armageddon. In 1994 Aum committed its first sarin attack against Japanese civilians by releasing the nerve agent in Matsumoto, killing seven people and wounding more than a hundred others. In its most infamous attack, Aum released sarin in the Tokyo subway system in 1995, killing a dozen people and wounding thousands more. As of 2016, Aum continues to maintain facilities in Japan and Russia.