Japanese Agents Raid Cult “Circle of Light”
2007.5.8 4:47 am

Japanese intelligence agents have raided the offices of Hikari no Wa, or Circle of Light, a religious group that broke away from the cult behind the deadly 1995 nerve gas attack in Tokyo's subway.

Officials say investigators carried out inspections Thursday of the group's Tokyo headquarters and 10 other facilities around the country. A former leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, Fumihiro Joyu, said earlier he had broken away from it and formed his own cult, called Hikari no Wa, or Circle of Light. Joyu says he has about 160 followers.

Japanese officials say the raids on Joyu's group are part of their ongoing surveillance of organizations that authorities believe may pose a threat to society.

The Aum cult renamed itself Aleph in 2000. Its founder, Shoko Asahara, is in prison awaiting execution for the Tokyo subway attack, which killed 12 people.

日本情报人员突查了宗教团体“光之轮”的办公室。“光之轮”从1995年对东京地铁站进行导致人员伤亡的毒气袭击的奥姆真理教中分离出来。

有关官员说，日本调查人员星期四对该组织在东京的总部以及分布在日本其它地方的10处会所进行了检查。奥姆真理教的前领袖上佑史浩早些时候说，他已经脱离奥姆真理教而自立教门，名为“光之轮”。他说，他有大约160名追随者。

日本官员说，当局一直监视它认为可能威胁社会的组织，对“光之轮”的突查行动是这种监视活动的组成部份。

奥姆真理教在2000年更名为“阿莱夫”，创始人麻原彰晃因东京地铁袭击案正在监狱中等候死刑的执行。东京地铁袭击造成12人丧生。