The Aum Shinrikyo cult, which perpetrated the deadly sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, has earned about 30 million yen this summer by holding intensive seminars attended by about 300 members, police sources said Saturday.
The police believe the doomsday cult, which has renamed itself Aleph, has come to rely on seminars more than ever to generate funds. Due to tight police surveillance and arrests, it has lost stable income sources such as having members work at computer-related firms.
The sources said that police investigations show Aum earned income through such means as collecting fees and donations at the intensive seminars held Aug. 9 to Aug. 15 at 11 locations nationwide, including its facilities in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, and Nishinari Ward, Osaka.