Japan's notorious Aum Shinrikyo sect, responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, is turning itself into a cyber network but is still fundamentally dangerous, the government warned in a report Friday.
The sect "still harbors fundamental dangers," Justice Minister Masahiko Komura was quoted by a ministry official as telling the cabinet. "Moreover, we cannot say there is any change to its secretive and deceptive character," Mr. Komura said.
"The sect attempts to conceal its organizational management by utilizing telecommunications systems such as the Internet and video conferencing to relay its orders, and manage and teach its members," Mr. Komura said.
Kazuya Sameshima, a Public Security Investigation Agency spokesman, said that the agency had evidence showing that the sect, which renamed itself Aleph in January 2000, continued to be centered on its founder, Shoko Asahara.
Mr. Asahara was arrested in May 1995 in connection with the Tokyo subway attack. The attack killed 12 people and wounded thousands. Mr. Asahara has been held in custody ever since.
According to the government report, the sect currently numbers about 650 full-time leaders and teachers, and more than 1,000 followers. TOKYO Japan's notorious Aum Shinrikyo sect, responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, is turning itself into a cyber network but is still fundamentally dangerous, the government warned in a report Friday.
The sect "still harbors fundamental dangers," Justice Minister Masahiko Komura was quoted by a ministry official as telling the cabinet. "Moreover, we cannot say there is any change to its secretive and deceptive character," Mr. Komura said.
"The sect attempts to conceal its organizational management by utilizing telecommunications systems such as the Internet and video conferencing to relay its orders, and manage and teach its members," Mr. Komura said.
Kazuya Sameshima, a Public Security Investigation Agency spokesman, said that the agency had evidence showing that the sect, which renamed itself Aleph in January 2000, continued to be centered on its founder, Shoko Asahara.
Mr. Asahara was arrested in May 1995 in connection with the Tokyo subway attack. The attack killed 12 people and wounded thousands. Mr. Asahara has been held in custody ever since.
According to the government report, the sect currently numbers about 650 full-time leaders and teachers, and more than 1,000 followers. TOKYO Japan's notorious Aum Shinrikyo sect, responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, is turning itself into a cyber network but is still fundamentally dangerous, the government warned in a report Friday.
The sect "still harbors fundamental dangers," Justice Minister Masahiko Komura was quoted by a ministry official as telling the cabinet. "Moreover, we cannot say there is any change to its secretive and deceptive character," Mr. Komura said.
"The sect attempts to conceal its organizational management by utilizing telecommunications systems such as the Internet and video conferencing to relay its orders, and manage and teach its members," Mr. Komura said.
Kazuya Sameshima, a Public Security Investigation Agency spokesman, said that the agency had evidence showing that the sect, which renamed itself Aleph in January 2000, continued to be centered on its founder, Shoko Asahara.
Mr. Asahara was arrested in May 1995 in connection with the Tokyo subway attack. The attack killed 12 people and wounded thousands. Mr. Asahara has been held in custody ever since.
According to the government report, the sect currently numbers about 650 full-time leaders and teachers, and more than 1,000 followers.