FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 22:15CST
The cause of this morning's disastrous incident continues to be one of mystery and intrigue, with a mid-morning statement that the incident was caused by a "random mass attack" perpetrated by an "unknown person or persons". Few other details were released by official sources, except another statement that Tokyo police were treating the incident as "multiple homicide investigation". No group has claimed responsibility for the heinous act.
The exact nature of the chemical involved has also remained a mystery until the time of this report. Initial reports, attributed to the Tokyo Fire Department, said that the poisonous substance was acetonitrile, an extremely toxic substance used as a fumigant and in metal treatment and photo processing. The next report, from the police department, said that there two boxes that were believed to contain Methyl Cyanide, also a very toxic chemical, that can cause rapid injury and death. The latest, unconfirmed, report speculates that a nerve gas called Sarin may be the cause of the tragic occurrence.
An ERRI analysis of the incident(to the time of this report), suggests that the symptoms reported by unofficial sources, thus far, are not consistent with the nerve agent Sarin. But, that it is difficult with the limited amount of information that is currently available to firmly establish the chemical that was involved. Additionally, a chemical analysis of the scene should confirm the actual chemical used, after the proper tests have been run at a lab.
One thing is certain. If it can be established that a nerve agent was used in Japan, the extremist assault on society has intensified by another deadly degree.
Chicago, IL, May 13, 1995 -- In a new and maybe unrelated terrorist twist, a pipe bomb exploded on Saturday at the new Tokyo airport in Narita. The explosion reportedly caused a small fire, but no injuries were reported. Witnesses described the device as being a "pipebomb", that may have been configured as an "anti-personnel" device, due to the fact that steel balls were found in the debris of the detonation. It is a common practice for terrorists to add nails, screws, and/or ball bearings to a improvised device to act as shrapnel, according to American explosive ordinance disposal experts.
The Narita airport bombing is latest in a string of terrorist acts affecting the country of Japan, dating back to the March 20th poison gas release in the subway system. That attack, and its details have been the focus of worldwide attention, since its occurrence. Counter-Terrorist (CT) analysts continue to question the details of that attack, as well as to attempt to assess its implications for the rest of the world.
According to Clark Staten, Executive Director of the Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI) of Chicago, IL, there are still too many unanswered questions regarding the alleged Sarin release in Tokyo. Staten says that he still has not abandoned his early hypothesis that the poison released into the Tokyo subway system was not pure Sarin gas. He continues to maintain that the symptoms of some the patients reportedly exposed to Sarin are inconsistent with exposure to the military nerve agent. "Unfortunately, patient information regarding cholinesterase tests and other quantifiable evidence of exposure to nerve agents has not been forthcoming from Japanese medical authorities", the veteran emergency services analyst said.
"There are still too many unanswered questions to form a final opinion, but it would still appear that there is some question as to the verified identification of the agent or agents that were released into the subway system in Tokyo", Staten continued. "As we continue to gather facts, we are still concerned that we may not be prepared in other countries for an emergency response to a situation similar to the initial Tokyo incident", he added. "Identification of the exact type(s) of agent(s) involved is essential, if we are to adequately prepare elsewhere", Staten said. "It would be most helpful to other emergency services, if the Japanese police/government were to release additional official details about the chemical composition of the compound(s) involved in the March 20th atrocity", the hazardous materials specialist added.
Staten continued by saying that it is possible that some of the signs and symptoms of the stricken patients, seen on video tape and reported by eyewitnesses, are indicative of several other different types of chemical agents other than Sarin gas. He points to the fact that Sarin is an extremely toxic substance that "should have killed hundreds or thousands...not a dozen", if it were the agent used. Additionally, Staten said that ERRI's initial investigation suggests that it is likely that there may have been "multiple agents used", or that the poison used was "impure" or "chemically different" than the pure nerve agent used by the military in chemical warfare.
"It is even more sinister and diabolical to think that the terrorist in the Tokyo attack may have used more than one agent...that could confuse the responding fire, police, and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies", Staten said. "Normally, emergency responders try to identify one chemical or a combination of chemicals and then try to treat those exposed in a logical manner", he continued. "In Tokyo, it may have been possible that one poison was used at one subway station and another chemical at another...that could explain the disparity in symptoms of those exposed in Tokyo", Staten added. "Another possible explanation is that the poison used in Tokyo was incorrectly mixed or 'contaminated' by other substances that still made it poisonous, but not to the strength or toxicity of actual Sarin gas", he continued. "If only we had the empirical evidence to support a set of conclusions...it would be possible put this issue to rest and begin to prepare for future eventualities", Staten concluded.
Staten also said that he believes that many chemicals that could have been used to concoct various poison gases were reportedly present in the AUM Shinrikyo compounds, but that they could have had a variety of other uses. He said that a preliminary analysis of some of the chemicals could even indicate that it is possible that "designer drugs" could have been produced on the premises. Although not confirmed, Staten said that there have been some law enforcement allegations concerning possible links between AUM Shinrikyo and an amphetamine-type drug that has reportedly been distributed in Japan and elsewhere.
Additionally, Staten said that sources close to an international law enforcement organization have said that it is also possible that a "select few individuals", within the AUM Shinrikyo, have financial and other ties to "organized crime figures" in Russia and at least one other country. Staten concluded the interview by saying that there is much more investigative work to be done in regard to the entire series of poison gas attacks in Japan, and that the international CT community is concerned about whether or not this is a "domestic terrorist agenda" within Japan, or if the danger may soon be exported elsewhere.
Chicago, IL, May 15 --Murder arrest warrants have finally been issued for Shoko Asahara and as many as forty (40) of his AUM Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth) followers. Japanese police today announced that they have also arrested a key figure in the investigation of the March 20th poison gas attack in several Tokyo subways. Arrested was Yoshihiro Inoue, a 25 year old karate expert and suspected "enforcer" for the cult. Inoue, described as the "intelligence chief" for AUM Shinrikyo, is reportedly charged with leading five two-man teams in the planting toxic substances at several Tokyo subway stations.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police are described as "elated" that Inoue has been arrested, because they say that they had feared that he would be the leader of additional terrorist acts, if Asahara were indicted and directly sought in the investigation. Some, confidentially, still say that they still fear reprisal attacks, if and when Asahara is arrested. An independent police source says that a raid on the AUM compound at the base of Mt. Fuji may be imminent. Police have previously raided the Supreme Truth compound in the village of Kamiku Isshiki, but have thus far not been able to locate Asahara.
In two possibly related incidents, reports have been received, overnight, of another case of "mysterious fumes" in the Subway in Yokohama. As many as twenty people were reportedly affected by some, as yet, unidentified noxious fumes. At least three people were transported to the hospital with respiratory difficulties, where they are described by doctors as being in "satisfactory" condition. No one has claimed responsibility for this latest scare, nor has the substance been identified.
Over the weekend, in a more bizarre twist, 30 "mystery balloons" were reported to have landed in a number of places, most near Tottori Prefecture, in an area 320 miles South of Tokyo. Each of the balloons was described as having a small tube attached, with miniature dials, numbers, and small batteries. Speculation has centered on the idea that the balloons were designed to spread additional fear that terrorists could release balloons with chemicals or explosives attached, and have them spread throughout Japan. The devices, reportedly, did not have any markings or other identifying marks, and did not contain any toxic or explosive products. American CT (Counter-terrorist) analysts say that the balloon launches are yet another ominous example of the devious and dangerous tactics that terrorists can undertake to cause fear in a civilian populace.
Japanese officials have not drawn any direct links between either the balloon flights or the latest fumes in the Yokohama subway, but sources close to the police say that they "unofficially" believe that these latest threats are part of a larger ongoing terror campaign against the Japanese people. International CT specialists say that the entire series of events, in Japan, could have been taken right out of a classic "terrorist playbook" and preplanned to cause the maximum amount of fear and apprehension among the Japanese citizenry. They say, by definition, that is what terrorism is all about.
Although the convoluted minds and twisted motivations of terrorists are difficult to ascertain, often they are rooted in using terror to bring about radical change. Be it in government leaders, political organization, geographic borders. religious tolerance (or lack thereof), or racial politics, the motivation is the same...to cause a massive change that will better suit the radical fringe that has undertaken the terror campaign. And...if the affected government will undertake brutal and "draconian" measures to combat the threat, so much the better. That, also, plays right into the hands of the terorists...because suddenly imposed restrictions on personal freedoms can serve to further alienate the general population from its government and can lead to additional distrust, chaos and possible rebellion.
Hopefully, the arrests of Asahara and others associated with the "doomsday cult", in Japan, will end the terror campaign there. And...maybe they can provide some food for thought about how we will respond to domestic terrorism in this county. We agree that retribution should be, as President Clinton said, "swift...certain... and severe" for those that perpetrated acts like the Oklahoma City bombing and the Japanese Subway poison gas attacks. We must assure, however, that our civil liberties and confidence in our government don't suffer from our hasty and well-meaning attempts to provide for security at home and abroad.
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