Police hunt final fugitive in Tokyo gas attack

Police said today they were closing in on the last fugitive suspected of carrying out a doomsday cult's deadly nerve gas attack on Tokyo's tube train network 17 years ago.

Around 5,000 officers mobilised to hunt for Katsuya Takahashi, handing out photos and monitoring transport hubs to keep him from escaping from the Tokyo area, where they believe he is hiding.

Takahashi is on Japan's most wanted list for his suspected role in the attack which killed 13 people and injured more than 6,000.

The long-cold search took a major step forward earlier this year, when a key fugitive turned himself in, leading to the arrest on Monday of another suspect, leaving only Takahashi.