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Japanese Cult Suspects in Moscow, St. Petersburg Released

Suspects detained in Moscow and St. Petersburg under suspicion of involvement with Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo were released due to lack of evidence, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.

It became clear that the suspects had gathered to practise yoga, an unidentified source in law enforcement told Interfax.

Approximately 30 suspects were detained after police raided addresses in various locations across Moscow and St. Petersburg on Tuesday, in connection with Russian Investigative Committee investigations into the organization's illegal activities.

Aum Shinrikyo is terrorist organzation banned in Russia. The organization was founded in Japan in 1987. In 1995 Aum Shinrikyo carried out a sarin attack in the Tokyo metro that killed 13 people and injured more than 1,000.

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