Faith, Fanaticism, And Fear: Aum Shinrikyo--the Birth and Death of a Terrorist Organization‪.‬

Introduction On March 20, 1995, Japan, a nation recognized for its remarkably low crime rate, was struck by a devastating terrorist attack on its busy Tokyo subway system. The attack left 12 dead and as many as 5,500 injured and opened the world's eyes to the dangerous possibilities of terrorist attacks involving chemical weapons. The attack was eventually linked to a religious cult known as Aum Shinrikyo, which had amassed a very large following and millions of dollars worth of assets within Japan and other nations. Investigations following the subway attack revealed the deadly mission that drove this group and uncovered several previously unknown terrorist attacks it had attempted, as well as a web of criminal activity ranging from kidnapping and murder to the manufacture of weapons, illicit drugs, and deadly chemical agents.