Aum Shinrikyo used anthrax from U.S. in 1993

WASHINGTON--The anthrax bacteria that was spread in the Aum Supreme Truth cult's general headquarters in Koto Ward, Tokyo, in July 1993 for unknown reasons was a harmless strain imported from the United States and designed to be used as vaccine for cattle, a Northern Arizona University research group said Tuesday.

Although no one contracted the disease in the Aum case, the research group members said there was a possibility the bacteria could have been turned into a biological weapon.

Prof. Paul Keim of the university, along with Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, obtained a sample of the anthrax bacteria after it had been used by the cult.

After analyzing its DNA, the research group concluded the bacteria was not cultivated by Aum, but was imported from the United States as a vaccine.

Keim said cult members may have dispersed the nonpoisonous bacteria either because they were ignorant of its effects or because they were rehearsing for a terrorist attack using biological weapons.
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According to the public prosecutor's concluding speech during an Aum Supreme Truth trial, followers of the cult in 1993 spread the anthrax germ in Tokyo after cultivating it in their buildings.
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It had been learned from Aum's former senior members that the bacteria was obtained through one of the cult's followers, but this is the first time light was shed on the bacteria's origin.
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Aum used anthrax from U.S. in 1993