Although a Japanese cult-group, Aum Shinrikyo, planned to use biological weapons they actually attempted and failed to disseminate biological agents for terrorist purposes.

ECONOMIST: Letters

They say Naoko Kikuchi, a 40-year-old ex-member of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, was picked up in Sagamihara, west of Tokyo, on Sunday.

BBC: Japan 'doomsday cult member' held

As the end of the century nears, it would be surprising indeed if Aum Shinrikyo turned out to be the only cult in Japan that believed in an apocalyptic tomorrow.

ECONOMIST: Japanese cults

Japan, which has local police forces rather than a real national one and is hesitant, for historical reasons, about interfering with religious groups, may be the only industrial democracy where a sect like Aum Shinrikyo could have gathered so much destructive power.

ECONOMIST: Coming soon to a city near you | The