Differences between terrorist acts and other types of political violence
Aum Shinrikyo is known primarily for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system that injured thousands of people and killed 12. This was an act of terrorism. Aum indiscriminately targeted civilians in a public space with the goal of creating fear and panic in hopes it would further their ideological/political goals.
However, the vast majority of violence perpetrated by Aum, while terror-like in practice, would not be defined as terrorism. The largest frequency of attacks, according to the Monterey Institute of International Studies, were attempted murder of specific individuals. This refers to their tendency to deliberately target personal enemies of the organization. A typical Aum attack was a violent crime rather than a terrorist act. Often Aum Shinrikyo members would target dissident Aum members or their families, attorneys litigating against Aum, or judges presiding over cases involving Aum. For example, in 1994 Aum members pretending to be joggers attacked and killed a man they thought was spying on the cult, by squirting him in the face and/or injecting him in the neck and with a toxic nerve agent called VX. This is an example of murder, a criminal act, not terrorism. One individual was specifically targeted and violence was committed against him, and it was not furthering any political goal and it was not meant to instill fear into a population. (Chronology)
Terror-like attacks against military targets or personnel or against another armed group are considered warfare. The first known Aum Shinrikyo attack should be considered an act of warfare or insurgency. In 1990 Aum launched a failed attack against two US naval bases in Yokohama and Yokosuka by spraying botulinum toxin from trucks as they drove by the bases(Chronology). The attack was a failure because Aum members couldn't properly grow the botulinum causing bacteria. Aside from these attacks on naval bases, there were other civilian and government targets as well. Aspects of these attacks could be considered acts of terrorism, however the attacks on a US naval installations were clear acts of warfare. An armed group attacking a foreign military occupying its territory, with intent to harm or kill personnel, is an insurgent act (war violence), not a terrorist act.
However, the vast majority of violence perpetrated by Aum, while terror-like in practice, would not be defined as terrorism. The largest frequency of attacks, according to the Monterey Institute of International Studies, were attempted murder of specific individuals. This refers to their tendency to deliberately target personal enemies of the organization. A typical Aum attack was a violent crime rather than a terrorist act. Often Aum Shinrikyo members would target dissident Aum members or their families, attorneys litigating against Aum, or judges presiding over cases involving Aum. For example, in 1994 Aum members pretending to be joggers attacked and killed a man they thought was spying on the cult, by squirting him in the face and/or injecting him in the neck and with a toxic nerve agent called VX. This is an example of murder, a criminal act, not terrorism. One individual was specifically targeted and violence was committed against him, and it was not furthering any political goal and it was not meant to instill fear into a population. (Chronology)
Terror-like attacks against military targets or personnel or against another armed group are considered warfare. The first known Aum Shinrikyo attack should be considered an act of warfare or insurgency. In 1990 Aum launched a failed attack against two US naval bases in Yokohama and Yokosuka by spraying botulinum toxin from trucks as they drove by the bases(Chronology). The attack was a failure because Aum members couldn't properly grow the botulinum causing bacteria. Aside from these attacks on naval bases, there were other civilian and government targets as well. Aspects of these attacks could be considered acts of terrorism, however the attacks on a US naval installations were clear acts of warfare. An armed group attacking a foreign military occupying its territory, with intent to harm or kill personnel, is an insurgent act (war violence), not a terrorist act.
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