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Day16: April 6 -- "Trespassing" in Their Own Office
- Three Aum members were arrested for trespassing shortly after 1:00 AM
this morning when they parked their car in the parking garage of a building
in which Aum rented an office. Police found ten 30 - 40 cm long steel
pipes in and around the car. Police suspect that these tubes may be gun
barrels. Items that appear to be triggers were also found in the car. The
police then used the trespassing charge to impound the car and search their
office. Police confiscated several address books and computer disks.
One of the computer disks found in an car confiscated last month
when the driver was arrested for "interfering with police duties" contained
several chemical equations. Among others, the equations for sodium
fluoride, phosphorus trichloride and isopropyl alcohol were on the disk.
Police pointed out that these three chemicals are used in the manufacture
of sarin. They did state however, that no equations or information
directly related to sarin production were found.
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Day 17: April 7 -- Police Find Proof of Sarin
- Investigators discovered traces of methylphosphon acid monoisopropyl in
the ventilation ducts of the Satian No. 7 building in Aum's Kamikuishiki
compound. Police claim that since this chemical can only be created by
decomposing sarin, it proves that sarin was present inside the building at
one time. No arrests were made on this since possession and production of
sarin are not illegal under Japanese law.
Police searched an Aum-run hospital in Nakano, but reported finding
nothing unusual. However, officials still believe that this hospital
played a role in the alleged confinement of an ex-Aum member.
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Day 18: April 8 -- Raids and Arrests Continue in Earnest
- In raids police still maintain are part of an
ongoing kidnapping investigation, police seized over 25 tons of chemicals
from a chemical company owned by a follower of Aum Shinri Kyo. In other
raids, police seized machine tools that they said could be used to produce
gun parts. They also confiscated "metal pipes that could have be used to
manufacture rifle barrels and a yellowish metal that could have been used
to cover the tips of bullets." Based on these findings, police have now
obtained a warrant to make arrests for violations of the arms manufacturing
law. No guns have been found.
Shinichiro Koshikawa was arrested for refusing to answer police
questions when he was stopped by police near a Japanese military
installation. He is being charged with "interference with police duties."
Police said that they are eager to find out why Koshikawa was near the GSDF
facility.
Aum doctor Ikuo Hayashi was arrested in Ishikawa prefecture on
suspicion of riding a stolen bicycle when police determined that the
bicycle he was riding was not properly registered. [ On two occasions
I have been detained for the same thing. -- TR] A few hours
later the charge was changed to illegal confinement for which police have
had a warrant outstanding.
The police have made over 70 arrests to date. So far, none of them
have been related to the subway gas attack or the kidnapping of the notary
public police claim to be investigating.
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Day 19: April 9 -- Police Seek Heat-Sealing Equipment
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Police said that the 11 plastic bags used in the subway raid were
not intravenous drip bags after all, but plastic sheets folded in half and
then heat sealed on three sides. They announced that a raid would be
conducted to determine if Aum has equipment capable of heat sealing
plastic.
Police also raided 10 Aum properties on various charges.
Methylphospon acid monoisopropyl was detected in the in the Saitan No. 7
building. Investigators claimed this as proof that sarin once existed in
the building since this chemical can only be created when sarin breaks
down.
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Day 20: April 10 -- Police Find Heat-Sealing Equipment
- Investigators found a machine capable of heat-sealing plastic. The
police said that it was possible to make plastic pouches similar to the
ones used in the attack , and that they would confiscate the equipment to
see if they could make identical pouches with it.
One of the floppy disks confiscated contained records of chemical
experiments police say coincide with known methods of producing sarin.