The Justice Ministry's Public Security Intelligence Agency on Monday raided 11 locations connected with Aum Shinrikyo ahead of next week's court verdict on cult founder Shoko Asahara.
The Tokyo District Court is widely expected to sentence Asahara, 48, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto, to death when it hands down its ruling Feb. 27. It is expected to rule that he masterminded the series of heinous crimes, including two deadly nerve gas attacks, for which several of his disciples have already been sentenced to hang.
The raids, which involved about 200 agency officers, were conducted to prevent Aum followers from taking any retaliatory action after the ruling, agency sources said.