Raja Krishnamoorthi Leads 105 US Lawmakers In Demand For FBI Probe Into Aurora Hindu Temple Attack

More than 100 US lawmakers have urged FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate an alleged attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a potential federal hate crime, citing concerns over rising anti-Indian, anti-Hindu and broader anti-South Asian hostility.

Led by Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, the lawmakers sent a letter to Patel on October 20 seeking details about the investigation and the FBI’s efforts to identify and address credible online threats against South Asian communities. The letter was signed by 105 members of Congress, including four senators. Krishnamoorthi and his family were worshipping at the temple when the alleged attack occurred on October 11.

According to prosecutors, 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis allegedly attempted to shoot a man outside the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple but fled after his rifle malfunctioned. He was arrested later that day after a co-worker alerted authorities to his alleged plans to return and try again.

Investigators reportedly recovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armour and white supremacist imagery. Prosecutors also allege that Paporakis authored an eight-page manifesto expressing white supremacist views and describing violence against people of Indian descent at a Hindu place of worship.

“The alleged combination of targeted racial hatred, a religious setting, and preparations for mass violence demands a comprehensive federal response,” the lawmakers wrote, urging the FBI to examine potential hate-crime violations explicitly.

The letter also raises concerns about the scale of online hostility against South Asians. Citing a September 2026 report, lawmakers said more than 542,000 anti-South Asian hateful posts appeared on X between January 2025 and June 2026. A Carnegie Endowment survey found that 48 per cent of Indian-American respondents had encountered racist posts targeting their community frequently or occasionally since the beginning of 2025.

The lawmakers also criticised Trump administration messaging that they said risked reinforcing racial and religious stereotypes, citing social media posts by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education.

They have asked the FBI to clarify whether investigators are examining racial, ethnic and religious bias, possible online facilitation of the alleged plot, and coordination with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The letter further seeks details about protections for houses of worship, the sharing of threat information with local authorities and the FBI’s capacity to investigate anti-South Asian threats.

The lawmakers have requested a written response by October 29, 2026, subject to restrictions arising from the ongoing investigation. They stressed that people should be able to practise their faith without fearing violence because of their ancestry or religion.