Police and public security authorities are on guard against potential trouble over the body of the founder of Aum Shinrikyo, the cult behind the 1995 sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway system.

Shoko Asahara, who was convicted of numerous murders including the subway attack, which killed 13 people, was executed Friday along with six former members of the cult.

Authorities fear that members of the cult’s splinter groups will try to snatch Asahara’s body. They also worry about members deifying him to strengthen influence over followers.

The Public Security Intelligence Agency says the Aum founder still exerts a strong influence over such groups as Aleph, led by former Aum spokesman Fumihiro Joyu.

Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa has said only that Asahara’s body will be handled “appropriately” and declined to provide details “for privacy reasons.”

According to the Justice Ministry, the body of an executed prisoner is handed over to a family member or person designated by him or her.

If requested, the body is cremated within 24 hours of execution.

When there is no one to receive the body, the penal facility where the execution was carried out has the body cremated and buried.