Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"It's a criminal enterprise trying to cover their tracks and also horror was trying to do that. He was trying to distract the police using the Serengas attacks." — Marcus Parks
"Because the liquefied seren gas is released, and then it slowly breaks down. As it decays, that's when it becomes the gas and becomes super, super deadly." — Marcus Parks
"Because the guru-led death cult, is that they're all were supposed to be him. They all looked towards him. He was the replacement of their personality. And once that's gone, there's nothing." — Marcus Parks
This installment of the podcast series on Om Shinrikyo details the cult's increasing criminal activities, from the murder of a notary public to the planning and execution of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack. The episode highlights how the cult, under Shoko Asahara's leadership, amassed wealth and a stockpile of weapons, including plans for AK-47s and chemical weapons, blurring the lines between a religious movement and a criminal organization. The narrative traces the cult's attempts to create distractions and cover up their crimes, including failed plots involving lasers and LSD, before settling on the sarin gas attack as a means to disrupt the police raid on their compound.
The sarin attack itself is described in grim detail, focusing on the meticulous planning and the perpetrators' actions on the subway lines. The episode emphasizes the devastating effect of the imperfectly produced sarin gas, the chaos in hospitals, and the difficulty authorities faced in identifying the cause and treating the victims. The cult's arrogance and belief in their own invincibility are portrayed through their attempts to deflect blame and continue their propaganda efforts even after the attack.
Finally, the episode covers the investigation leading to Asahara's capture, the discovery of evidence of further crimes like incineration, and the eventual trials and sentencing of cult members. It touches upon the psychological impact on former members and the cult's continued attempts to influence public perception. The episode concludes by reflecting on the cult's ultimate downfall, attributed to the loss of their charismatic leader, and the lingering impact of their actions on Japan.