There is a view that these outrageous acts of violence were only an outward reason and that they viewed SERIZAWA as a danger because he had a background in Mitogaku in addition to his strong idea of Sonno-joi of Tengu-to Party.
乱暴狼藉は表向きの理由で、水戸学を学び、天狗党の強烈な尊王攘夷思想の流れをくむ芹沢を危険視したという説もある。