Japan Conducts Drill on Subway Attack Anniversary

Japanese police officers and firefighters yesterday conducted a drill involving the release of a dangerous chemical on a high-speed train, on the 12th anniversary of the sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Sept. 18, 2006).

Emergency personnel in protective gear and gas masks evacuated passengers from the train after it made an emergency stop at the Shinagawa station.

“This mock operation was staged to coincide with the anniversary of the sarin attacks in Tokyo’s subway,” said Akihiro Koizumi, deputy chief at the Takanawa police station.

It also provided training for responding to a chemical strike against the 2008 Group of Eight summit, which could be held in Japan.

“Various locations are being considered to host the summit, including Yokohama.  And since it is one stop away from Tokyo on a bullet train, we thought it essential to do this operation,” Koizumi said.

Twelve people died and thousands were sickened when the Aum Shinrikyo cult released the nerve agent sarin at several spots in the subway system on March 20, 1995.  Numerous surviving victims continue to suffer headaches, vision problems and stress, AFP reported (Agence France-Presse, March 20).

Meanwhile, Israel yesterday began a two-day nationwide drill that included a terrorist chemical incident, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, March 20).

Two mock terrorists released a toxic chemical at a high school near Tel Aviv, causing soldiers posing as students to flee and collapse in agony.  Authorities “shot” one attacker and the other blew himself up.

Chemical treatment personnel wearing protective gear were called in to deal with the chemical, while emergency responders treated victims and set up decontamination showers in a parking lot (Laurie Copans, Associated Press/The Record, March 20).

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