Japanese Police Seek Gunman Amid New Threats

Officers mounted a huge manhunt in a quiet neighborhood Thursday after a brazen daylight ambush on Japan’s top police official and threats of new attacks if police continue investigating a doomsday sect.

The sect, called Aum Supreme Truth, denied involvement in the attack on National Police Agency head Takaji Kunimatsu, who was shot four times from behind by a masked assailant outside his Tokyo condominium Thursday morning. He was in serious condition after receiving 21 pints of blood during a six-hour operation.

“Aum Shinri Kyo (Supreme Truth) has absolutely nothing to do with this incident,” the sect said in a statement.

But separate anonymous callers to two Japanese television networks said Kunimatsu was shot on behalf of the sect.

The sect was already under scrutiny by police, who suspect that it may be involved in the March 20 nerve-gas attack on Tokyo’s subways, which killed 10 people and afflicted more than 5,000 others.

Police sources did not rule out the possibility that Kunimatsu, 57, was the target of an organized crime hit man. Since taking office last July, Kunimatsu has led a crackdown on the yakuza , Japan’s organized crime.