WASHINGTON DC: US lawmakers Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick have urged the Justice Department and FBI to investigate into the mass shooting plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. The lawmakers described the attack plot as a potential federal hate crime. The case has heightened concerns amid rising instances of anti-Indian and anti-Hindu hostility across the United States. Meanwhile, US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi revealed that he and his family were worshipping at the temple when the attack was attempted and severely condemned the targeted violence.
US India Caucus co-chairs demand federal action
In a letter dated October 16, Representatives Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, urged US Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate the plot targeting the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, near Chicago.
The lawmakers called for the case to be examined as a potential federal hate crime, with all charges supported by the evidence pursued. They also sought an investigation into whether anyone had encouraged or assisted the accused, either online or offline and urged federal authorities to share threat information with law enforcement agencies.
As a Hindu American, I am angered by the attempted mass shooting at a Temple by a white supremacist.
The shooter's evil is only surpassed by his ignorance. Hinduism teaches non-violence. pic.twitter.com/7E3znjY1dP
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 15, 2026
FBI data reveals increasing rate of hate crimes targeting Hindus
Citing FBI data, the US lawmakers noted an increase in reported hate crimes targeting Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities since 2025. Their letter also referenced a report by the Centre for the Study of Organised Hate, which found that anti-South Asian hate posts on X rose by approximately 240 per cent between January 2024 and June 2026. A 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace survey found that one in four Indian-American adults surveyed had been called a slur since the beginning of 2025.
Khanna, who is Hindu American, separately condemned the plot, saying, “The shooter’s evil is only surpassed by his ignorance. Hinduism teaches non-violence”. The lawmakers also requested protective resources for minority communities and a briefing on federal efforts to address threats against Indian Americans.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s family was at the temple during the attack
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said that he and his family were worshipping at the Aurora temple when the attack was attempted. “I am horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at the Hindu temple in Aurora where my family worships. My family and I were there when the attack was attempted last Sunday “, he said.
My family and I were worshipping at our Hindu temple in Aurora on Sunday when a white supremacist attempted a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans. I'm grateful to those who helped prevent a tragedy, but we must come together to confront the hatred that put so many innocent… pic.twitter.com/DM2mUenrh3
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) October 15, 2026
Several other US lawmakers condemned the plot. Representative Ami Bera said that it highlighted the threats facing Hindu communities and others targeted by racial and religious hatred, while Representatives Brad Sherman, Shri Thanedar and Pramila Jayapal called for stronger action against hate-fuelled violence.
The racist attacker, Alexandros Paporakis, 19, from Palatine, Illinois, was arrested on October 11 after a co-worker alerted authorities to suspicious electronic communications. Investigators said that the material indicated an intention to kill Indian people and outlined plans for mass violence. According to authorities, the planned attack was thwarted after the suspect’s rifle reportedly jammed, prompting him to leave the area and return home.
A search of his residence uncovered a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armour, tactical equipment and an eight-page document titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)”. The document contained white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage.
At a press conference on October 15, Palatine Police Chief William Nord said that the investigators were examining the manifesto and trying to establish why October 11, had been selected as the intended date. He added that the suspect appeared to have been specifically searching for a large Hindu temple.
India urges US to ensure safety of Indian nationals
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the incident and called on Washington to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the United States. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the case highlighted increasing instances of hate crimes and racial discrimination affecting Indian communities.
“We have taken note of the action that the US law enforcement authorities have undertaken once this incident happened, but we call on the United States side to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in the country”, Jaiswal said. India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, also described the plot as deeply disturbing, stressing that racist violence and anti-Hindu hatred had no place in a civilised society.
The plot emerged during Navaratri celebrations and followed reports of vandalism at the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio. The Hindu organisations urged the Justice Department and FBI to consider federal hate crime and domestic terrorism charges. It also recalled the 2012 massacre at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extremist hatred.
