105 U.S. Lawmakers Call for FBI Investigation into Attempted Shooting at Illinois Hindu Temple

Aurora, Illinois, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : A group of 105 U.S. lawmakers has urged the FBI to investigate an attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. They are calling for the incident to be examined as a potential federal hate crime and have raised alarms about increasing threats against Indian-American and other South Asian communities.

Leading this bipartisan appeal is Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple with his family when the attack was attempted on October 11. In a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, the lawmakers requested a thorough investigation, including whether the suspect acted out of racial and religious hatred and if others assisted in planning the alleged attack.

The letter was signed by all Indian-American members of Congress, the entire Democratic delegation from Illinois, and Senators Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Chris Van Hollen.

According to prosecutors, 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis from Palatine, Illinois, attempted to shoot at the temple but fled after a malfunction with his rifle. Authorities reported that a coworker alerted police about his alleged plan to return to the temple, leading to his arrest.

Prosecutors allege that Paporakis, who identifies as a neo-Nazi, drafted an eight-page white supremacist manifesto detailing violence against individuals of Indian descent at the Hindu worship site. The investigation has reportedly uncovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor, and white supremacist imagery.

In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that the combination of targeted racial hatred, the preparation for violence at a place of worship, and the potential for mass violence necessitates a comprehensive federal response. They acknowledged the assistance of local investigators and expressed concern over the rising online hostility towards Indians, Hindus, Sikhs, and other South Asian communities.

Citing a study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, lawmakers noted that over 542,000 anti-South Asian hate posts appeared on the social media platform X between January 2025 and June 2026. The study revealed a nearly 240% increase in the monthly number of such posts from January 2024 to June 2026.

A separate survey by the Carnegie Endowment found that 48% of Indian-American respondents reported frequently seeing racist online posts targeting their community since early 2025.

The lawmakers criticized federal agencies for social media messages that risk promoting racial and religious stereotypes. They referenced a September post by the Department of Homeland Security featuring a Sikh individual, which read, “Get off our streets, you don’t know how to drive Mr. Singh.” The post was removed following backlash, with DHS clarifying it referred to a specific individual involved in a fatal accident.

Additionally, the lawmakers mentioned a post by the Department of Education regarding South Asian spectators at a University of Texas football game, asserting that such messages could legitimize racial and religious stereotypes.

They inquired whether investigators are looking into online communications related to the Aurora plot and whether there were any potential accomplices. The letter also requested information on identifying credible threats to potentially targeted places of worship and the agency’s capacity to share intelligence with local authorities to enhance their security.

The lawmakers demanded a written response by October 29, detailing whether the investigation is examining both racial and religious biases.

They concluded with a strong message: “No one should fear being targeted because of their ancestry, complexion, or faith, and no congregation should feel that gathering for worship puts its members at risk of mass violence.”