Standard Tactics and Techniques of Aum Shinrikyo
- Aum's attacks are normally carried out by very small groups of cult members. Aum exclusively relies on the use of chemical or biological weapons.
- Biological agents known to have been acquired, created or attempted to be created by Aum Shinkrikyo include Anthrax, botuilinum, ebola
- No biological attacks known to have succeeded.
- Chemical agents created or obtained for use in attacks by Aum: sarin, VX, hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, mustard gas, soman, taburn
- Typically a syringe is used to assassinate specific targets with a nerve agent, frequently VX.
- Spray nozzles or fans are often used to spread chemical/biological agents.
- As the nerve agent sarin creates deadly vapor at normal temperatures and pressure, sarin attacks are usually low-tech and involve puncturing a plastic bag containing sarin.
- Remote controlled vehicles have been used to spread chemical/biological agents.
- Modified delivery vans are often used by Aum to disseminate chemical/biological agents.
- Aum often attempts to use airborne botulinum (although none are known to have succeeded).
- Hydrogen cyanide attacks involved use of 2 containers one of sodium cyanide one of hydrochloric acid becoming combined together; sometimes operated by a battery powered time activated blade device to cut the two containers (bags in this case) to allow them to combine.
- Attacks that do not specifically target individuals tend to target subway systems or public spaces where many people can be affected by the release of chemical/biological agent in a confined space.
- Attackers often wear disguises such as joggers to attack people on the street as not arouse suspicion when running away; or businessmen when attacking a subway.
- One known attack against Aum dissident members was carried out using food borne toxins.
- Attacks during the night target sleeping people and involve large quantities of chemical agents such as in Mastumoto, Japan.
Source: Chronology of Aum Shinrikyo’s CBW Activities. Monterey Institute of International Studies. 2001