NAME: Aum Supreme Truth (Aum) a.k.a. Aum Shinrikyo, Aleph
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1987.
GOALS: To take over Japan and then the world.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.
STRENGTH: The Aum's current membership is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 persons. At the time of the 1995 Tokyo subway attack, the group claimed to have 9,000 members in Japan and up to 40,000 worldwide.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: The Aum's principal membership is located only in Japan, but a residual branch comprising an unknown number of followers has surfaced in Russia.
AFFILIATIONS: None.
COMMENTS: A cult established by Shoko Asahara, the Aum is responsible for the March 20, 1995 sarin nerve gas attacks on several Tokyo subway trains that killed 12 persons and injured up to 6,000. In 2000, Fumihiro Joyu took control of the Aum following his three-year jail sentence for perjury. Joyu was previously the group's spokesman and Russia Branch leader. Under Joyu's leadership the Aum changed its name to Aleph and claims to have rejected the violent and apocalyptic teachings of its founde r. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000.
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1987.
GOALS: To take over Japan and then the world.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.
STRENGTH: The Aum's current membership is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 persons. At the time of the 1995 Tokyo subway attack, the group claimed to have 9,000 members in Japan and up to 40,000 worldwide.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: The Aum's principal membership is located only in Japan, but a residual branch comprising an unknown number of followers has surfaced in Russia.
AFFILIATIONS: None.
COMMENTS: A cult established by Shoko Asahara, the Aum is responsible for the March 20, 1995 sarin nerve gas attacks on several Tokyo subway trains that killed 12 persons and injured up to 6,000. In 2000, Fumihiro Joyu took control of the Aum following his three-year jail sentence for perjury. Joyu was previously the group's spokesman and Russia Branch leader. Under Joyu's leadership the Aum changed its name to Aleph and claims to have rejected the violent and apocalyptic teachings of its founde r. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000.