The doomsday cult accused in the deadly 1995 Tokyo subway gas attack is still considered a threat and must remain under police surveillance for at least three more years, Japanese authorities said Thursday.
The current three-year surveillance of Aum Shinrikyo, whose leaders were held responsible for killing 12 people and injuring thousands in the attack, expires Jan. 31.
The sect's dangerous beliefs and anti-social behavior have remained unchanged despite the convictions of its leaders for the crimes, said the Public Security Examination Commission.
Group founder Chizuo Matsumoto, who goes by the name Shoko Asahara, is still on trial for allegedly masterminding the subway attack as well as other killings and assaults.
"Members continue to follow Matsumoto as the absolute religious leader, and his influence over the group has never changed," said Kozo Fujita, who heads the commission. "The sect has a potential danger of repeating similar mass killings in the future. We must continue monitoring its activities."
The cult has regrouped under a new name, Aleph, with about 1,000 members.
Nearly a dozen members of the group have been sentenced to death for the subway gassing and other crimes. None has yet been executed.
The cult's new leader, Fumihiro Joyu, said he planned to file a lawsuit demanding the court invalidate the surveillance extension.