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Japan executes founder of Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult

Aum Shinrikyo sprang into global focus in 1995, when its adepts sprayed the nerve agent Sarin in the Tokyo subway

Shoko Asahara EPA PHOTO JIJI PRESS

Shoko Asahara

© EPA PHOTO JIJI PRESS

TOKYO, July 6. /TASS/. The founder of the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, responsible for the deadly 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo, was executed by hanging together with some of his followers on Friday, the NHK TV channel reported.

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Shoko Asahara (born Chizuo Matsumoto), along with 10 high-ranking Aum Shinrikyo members, were sentenced to death in a trial that ended this January. About 180 members were sentenced to varying prison terms.

Aum Shinrikyo was founded by Shoko Asahara of Japan in 1987 and sprang into global focus in 1995, when its adepts sprayed the nerve agent Sarin in the Tokyo subway. The attack claimed the lives of thirteen people, over 6,300 people were injured.

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