Police in Japan have unearthed eight containers of Sarin nerve gas ingredient hydrogen fluoride, buried by followers of the Aum Supreme Truth cult three years ago.
Cylinders containing the highly toxic chemical were found in mountains in Nikko, 125 km north of Tokyo, on May 14th, a police spokesman said yesterday. "The information on the hydrogen fluoride was obtained during interrogations" of former Aum followers, he said.
Aum disciples are believed to have buried the containers in early April 1995, shortly after the cult's Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 12 people and injured thousands.
Hydrogen fluoride, which becomes lethal on contact with water, is an essential ingredient of Sarin gas.
In July 1995, hundreds of bottles of sodium cyanide were found in the same Nikko mountains following a confession from a senior Aum member.
In December 1996, 30 grammes of VX gas, even more toxic than Sarin, were discovered buried in western Tokyo, following information provided by another cult member.
A Japanese court sentenced Dr Ikuo Hayashi to life imprisonment on Tuesday for spreading Sarin gas in the Aum attack on Tokyo's subways in March 1995. The cult's spiritual leader, Mr Shoko Asahara, accused of masterminding the attack, is still on trial.
A total of 192 cult followers have been sentenced or are on trial for the subway attack or other crimes.