Brief History. Established in 1987 by Shoko Asahara, an eccentric, half-blind intellectual, Aum reflects an eclectic and twisted blend of Tibetan Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist and Christian thought. It focuses on spiritual existence in a world that its adherents view as increasingly hedonistic, superficial and materialistic. Asahara claimed that the state of the world indicated that apocalypse was nearing and would begin with a U.S. weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attack on Japan. His group sought to hasten that apocalypse, take over Japan and the globe, and herald a new order from chaos.

To this end, Aum sought to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons capabilities. On June 27, 1994 Aum released the nerve agent, sarin, over a district in central Japan, killing seven people and injuring hundreds. In its deadliest and most infamous attack, on March 20, 1995, ten Aum followers punctured bags of diluted sarin in five subway stations located under government offices and the National Police Agency’s headquarters. Twelve people were killed and up to 6,000 were injured. In response, Japanese security forces arrested Aum followers, including Asahara, and closed laboratories and production facilities. Nine members of the group have since been sentenced to death and Asahara continues to stand trial. A verdict is expected in Asahara’s trial in February 2004.

The group has renamed itself "Aleph," meaning beginning, and is under the new leadership of Fumihiro Joyu.70 It has issued a public apology and promised at least $2.5 million in reparations for victims of the attack. It has also renounced violence in the political and spiritual processes. Although the group has not been associated with any terrorist act since 1995, Japanese officials are still concerned, saying that it is ‘no less dangerous than it was seven years ago.’ Security forces closely monitor the group’s activities, and under new legislation, are permitted to conduct raids of Aum facilities. The group has reportedly renewed its recruiting activities, disseminating videos and posting web pages in Japanese, English and Russian.

Favored Tactics. Aum has used chemical weapons against civilian and government targets. In 1993 the group attempted to spread anthrax from one of its facilities in Tokyo, and in 1995 Aum punctured bags of sarin with umbrellas in the Tokyo subway that killed 12 and injured up to 6,000. According to one source, "Members had tried on no fewer than eight different occasions between 1990 and 1995 to aerosolize anthrax bacteria and botulinum toxin at locations around Tokyo."According to some experts, Aum produced or acquired enough sarin to kill an estimated 4.2 million people.

Anti-American Activities. Aum has not targeted Americans or U.S. interests in the past. However, Asahara often preached anti-American rhetoric to his constituents, including the sentiment that the United States was at fault for Japan’s economic and social ills.

Primary Area(s) of Operation. Aum has solely attacked targets in Japan, but its followers and its administrative offices extend beyond Japan. Analysts suspect that Aum once maintained offices in Australia, Germany, Russia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the United States. There are still reportedly a large number of members of Aleph in Russia.

Strength and Composition. The State Department estimates that Aum currently consists of 1,500 to 2,000 followers. Some experts say that at its peak, the group had 60,000 followers, including 10,000 in Japan, as many as twenty to thirty thousand in Russia, and an additional ten to twenty thousand worldwide.As recently as August 2003, the Russian Orthodox Church has claimed there are more Aum members in Russia than in Japan. Aum’s spiritual message has appealed to young, well-educated individuals characterized as "alienated by society’s preoccupation with work, success, technology and making money."

Connections with Other Groups. Unknown.

State Supporters and Other Sources of Funding. Reportedly owning nearly $1.4 billion in assets, Aum has proven itself to be a wealthy and self-reliant group. It operates a computer store that reportedly generates annual sales of approximately 7 billion yen (about $63 million).It has been reported that Aum’s computer businesses have been highly lucrative because dedicated cult followers work for little or no wages, allowing Aum to undersell its competitors. The sophisticated technical capabilities of many members of Aum give this group the ability to generate robust sources of funds. In addition to high-tech goods, the cult generates revenue through sales of publications and spiritual goods.

Originally Designated as an FTO. October 8, 1997.

Re-designated. October 8, 1999, October 5, 2001.

Issues of Concern for Congress. Aum was the first terrorist group to have used so-called weapons of mass destruction. The group’s willingness to use chemical and biological weapons makes it of special concern, especially considering that Japanese authorities are still very wary of the group’s intentions and that it continues to exist.