US lawmakers seek federal action after thwarted attack on Illinois Hindu temple

Two US lawmakers have urged the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate an alleged plot to attack a Hindu temple in Illinois as a potential federal hate crime, citing concerns over hostility towards Hindu and Indian American communities.In a letter dated October 16, Representatives Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, called on Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to take action following the alleged plot against a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois.The letter follows the arrest of a 19-year-old man from Palatine, Illinois, who allegedly planned a mass shooting targeting a Hindu place of worship. Authorities were alerted after the suspect's co-workers reported threatening communications, which included a manifesto expressing white supremacist and anti-South Asian views, according to media reports. The suspect faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession.According to the lawmakers' letter, the suspect allegedly told a co-worker that he wanted to "kill Indian people" and wrote a manifesto describing Indians as "subhumans" while outlining plans to maximise casualties. The lawmakers called for a federal investigation into whether the alleged plot constituted a hate crime and whether anyone else had encouraged, assisted or coordinated with the suspect.LAWMAKERS SEEK STRONGER PROTECTION FOR PLACES OF WORSHIPThe representatives also urged federal authorities to share timely threat information with state and local law enforcement agencies and provide protective resources to South Asian places of worship. They asked the Justice Department and the FBI to brief the Congressional Caucus on the steps being taken to counter threats against Hindu and Indian American communities.The appeal comes amid growing concerns about anti-South Asian hostility in the United States, including online abuse and threats targeting people of Indian origin.A September 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate documented a 240 per cent increase in the monthly volume of anti-South Asian hate posts on X between January 2024 and June 2026. The study examined hateful content targeting South Asians, including people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin.A separate 2026 survey by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that one in four Indian American respondents said they had been called a slur since the beginning of 2025. The survey also documented experiences of harassment and threats among respondents.The letter also cited FBI data indicating that reported hate crimes targeting Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities increased in 2025, pointing to broader concerns about threats against religious minorities in the United States.DEMAND FOR FEDERAL ACTIONThe lawmakers said the alleged plot underscored the need for authorities to respond to threats against religious communities and ensure that places of worship remain safe.Their requests include investigating the Aurora case as a potential federal hate crime, determining whether others were involved, improving the flow of threat information to local authorities and religious institutions, and providing a formal briefing on federal efforts to address such threats.The letter concluded by emphasising the right of Americans to practise their faith without fear.- Ends