NAGANO (Kyodo) Relatives of victims of the 1994 sarin gas attacks in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, held a 15th anniversary memorial service Saturday together with supporters and representatives of citizens’ groups.
Seven people were killed and more than 200 people were injured by the gas attacks, which were committed by members of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult. The death toll eventually reached eight after Sumiko Kono died last year at age 60 following 14 years in a coma.
Among those who paid floral tribute Saturday were Fusae Kobayashi, mother of Yutaka Kobayashi, a 23-year-old salaried worker who was killed in the attacks, and Masako Yasumoto, mother of a 29-year-old medical school student, who was also a victim. The citizens and supporters were organizing events in the city Saturday to remember Aum’s crimes.
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