Aum Supreme Truth (Aum) or Aum Shinrikyo, now formally known as Aleph.

Aum says it wants to attain control of Japan and then the rest of the world.

Estimated at 1,500 to 2,000, with around 500 hard-core members. In the 1990s, the group claimed to have 9,000 Japanese members and 40,000 supporters worldwide.

None.

Aum reportedly still has a large network of commercial and propaganda operations. The group has used sarin and is said to have experimented with botulism, VX and anthrax. It also reportedly has had a Russian-made helicopter. Aum supporters have been relatively quiet since 2000.

Shoko Asahura founded Aum Shinrikyo as an apocalyptic religious cult in 1987. It was approved as a religious organization in 1989. It became active in local politics in 1990. Between 1994 and 1995, Aum perpetrated several attacks, including a sarin gas assault in March 1995 on a Tokyo subway station that left 12 dead and 5,000 wounded.

Aum's ideology is based on a mix of Buddhism and Christianity. Its founder, Shoko Asahura, is considered to be Jesus Christ by his disciples. Asahura used a mixture of the Bible and Nostradamus' writings to predict disastrous events in the final years of the 20th century. Asahura also called on his followers to fight a final war with the enemies of Japan. In preparation for this Armageddon, the group stockpiled several deadly chemicals, including sarin nerve agent.

One of the most controversial Aum beliefs is its interpretation of the Buddhist concept of poa. This belief states that under certain circumstances, murder can spiritually elevate both the killer and victim. Aum has used poa as a rationalization for its killings and attacks. After 1997, the group came under increased surveillance by the Japanese police. Asahura was arrested that year. A special law, first authorized in 1999, has been regularly approved to enable Japanese authorities to monitor Aum activities. Japan has disbanded the group as a religious entity, but did not fully outlaw the sect.

Aum has been led by Fumihiro Joyu, who changed the name of the group to Aleph in 2000. Joyu was formerly a spokesman and leader of the group in Russia. Aleph claimed to reject the violent apocalyptic teachings of Aum. Aleph's organizational structure is similar to that of a nation-state. Since 1997, Aleph has opened five regional chapters and one training center, according to Japanese authorities.

The makeover of Aum Shinrikyo led to conflicts within the group. As of 2006, factions were using separate Aum facilities. Aleph’s attempt to distance itself from its founding ideologies has led to a split between supporters of Shoku Asahura and Fumihiro Joyu.

Joyu announced in March of 2007 that he would establish a new organization with around 60 live-in and 200 lay members. Aleph expected to retain 400 live-in and 690 lay members, headed by Naruhito Noda.

1987
Shoku Asahura founded the Aum Shinrikyo cult. Its stated aim is to take over Japan, followed by the rest of the world.

1989
Aum was recognized as a religious group under Japanese law.

1990
Aum members ran for office during Japan's parliamentary elections, but none of them were elected. Asahura accused the Japanese government of rigging the elections.

1993
June: The group attempted to release anthrax spores from its mid-rise Tokyo office building, but unknowingly used a non-lethal vaccine strain.

1994
June 27: Aum followers sprayed sarin gas from a car in a residential area of the city of Matsumoto. The attack was intended to disrupt a lawsuit against Aum by local residents. Seven people were killed in the attack. Another 144 people were injured, including three Nagano District Court judges.

1995
March 20: Aum members released sarin gas onto Tokyo subway trains, killing 12 and injuring more than 5,000.

April 23: The Yakuza organized crime syndicate murdered Hideo Murai, Aum's proclaimed minister of science and the recipient of a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Osaka University. Murai was allegedly responsible for bizarre research projects, as well as acquiring highly specialized scientific and laboratory equipment for Aum’s chemical and biological weapons programs. The Yakuza is said to have murdered Murai to cover up its involvement with the group.

May 5: Five Aum members placed bags containing cyanide gas in a restroom in a Tokyo subway station. Subway workers were alerted and the situation was resolved without casualties.

May 16: Aum members mailed a letter bomb to the governor of Tokyo Prefecture. The governor's secretary was wounded in the subsequent blast.

June 4: Four cyanide devices were found in several Tokyo train stations. No one was injured.

1996
Aum member Eriko Lida was found guilty for the illegal confinement and poisoning of a notary public named Kiyoshi Kariya. Lida served six-and-a-half years in jail and was released in August of 2002.

Dec. 11: Police unearthed a bottle of liquefied VX on the bank of the Tamagawa Jyosui canal after receiving a tip from a former Aum member.

1997
Japanese police put Aum under surveillance.

1998
May 14: Japanese police uncovered eight cylinders -- 160 kg (352 lbs.) -- of hydrogen fluoride buried in Nikko by Aum members. The chemical can be used to make nerve gas.

2000
Toshiyasu Ouchi, head of Aum Shinrikyo’s Russia branch, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in the 1989 murder of another Aum member.

Aum changed its name to Aleph, and Fumihiro Joyu took over as leader.

Aleph members were discovered hacking into classified computer networks to gather sensitive information on nuclear power plants in Russia, Ukraine, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Russian Aum followers allegedly planned a series of attacks against Japanese child care facilities to try to gain Asahura's release.

2001
July: Russian authorities arrested a group of Russian Aum followers who had planned to set off bombs near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as part of an operation to free Asahura from jail and smuggle him to Russia.

2003
Late in the year, Joyu stepped down as leader of Aleph under pressure from members who wanted to return to the worship of Asahura.

2004
Feb. 27: Asahura was found guilty on 13 charges for the sarin attack of March 1995. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

July 28: A Tokyo court rejected the legal appeals of two Aum members sentenced to death in 2000. There have been 13 former members sentenced to death in connection with the 1995 sarin subway attack.

2006
Feb. 20: A psychiatric evaluation ordered by the Tokyo High Court found that Asahura was mentally competent to undergo court proceedings appealing his original conviction and death sentence.

Sept. 15: Japan’s Supreme Court rejected Asahura’s appeal, paving the way for his execution.

Sept. 16: Japanese police raided 25 Aum facilities throughout the country, looking for cult members engaging in illegal activities as a result of Asahura’s denied appeal.

2007
March 5: Fumihiro Joyu informed the Public Security Intelligence Agency that his followers intended to separate themselves from Aum Shinrikyo (renamed Aleph in 2000) and create a new organization.

May: Fumihiro Joyu formally announced the split and creation of a new group, called Hikari No Wa (Ring of Light).

Aug. 25: The Japanese Supreme Court finalized the death sentence of Aum Shinrikyo member Masato Yokoyama for his role in the 1995 sarin attack.

2008
Nov. 10: Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahura petitioned for a retrial. Those on death row in Japan are usually not executed while a retrial request is pending.