30 years after subway sarin attack, Japan faces lone wolves aided by AI

New technology helps individuals plan and carry out attacks

20250320N terror 1

Japanese police officers and firefighters participate in a chemical attack drill in Tokyo in February. © Kyodo

REO NAITO

TOKYO -- Three decades since the deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway by the Aum Shinrikyo cult, Japan is contending with starkly different threats from lone-wolf attackers who turn to artificial intelligence and other online tools for help.

On Jan. 1, an active-duty Army Green Beret blew up a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, injuring at least seven people. Local police said the solider, who killed himself during the attack, used ChatGPT to help plan the bombing, asking the AI model questions like the maximum amount of gunpowder he could legally purchase.

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