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A 19-year-old was arrested after an alleged mass-shooting attempt at an Illinois Hindu temple failed. The case has intensified concern over anti-Hindu hatred and threats to religious freedom.
Washington,Oct 16, 2026 10:46 IST
US lawmakers and advocacy groups have expressed shock over an alleged attempt to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois, saying anti-India and anti-Hindu hatred was turning into violence, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
A 19-year-old was arrested after allegedly planning to attack the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Aurora on Sunday. The plan failed because the gun he was carrying jammed and did not fire.
The teenager was arrested in Palatine, near Chicago. He appeared in court on October 14 and was charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of weapons, according to PTI.
Senators Chuck Schumer, John Cornyn and Jacky Rosen praised the police for acting in time to foil the alleged plot.
“Anti-Indian and anti-Hindu rhetoric is at an alarming level in America, and now we are seeing that hatred turn into violence,” Schumer, a Democratic senator from New York, said in a post on X.
“Bigotry against any community has no place in America, and I remain committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their race or religion, can live and practise their faith openly in our country,” he said.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and non-profit organisation ADL also voiced concern over places of worship across faiths becoming targets of hate and extremism.
“This plot exposes the very real danger white supremacist ideology poses to our communities and houses of worship, and it cannot be viewed in isolation. This kind of violence has no place in America. Every American deserves to worship freely and without fear,” the caucus said in a statement signed by lawmakers including Suhas Subramanyam, Grace Meng and Judy Chu.
The caucus said anti-South Asian hate speech on X had surged by 240 per cent over the past two years. It said the increase was driven partly by influential figures who amplify racist rhetoric, blame immigrant communities and push bigotry and xenophobia further into the mainstream.
The Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee said it was deeply troubled by the alleged plot targeting the Hindu temple, where Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and his family were present.
Lawmakers Cornyn, Young Kim, Keith Seif, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Tom Suozzi, Robin Kelly and Greg Stanton were among those who praised law enforcement authorities for their timely action.
“When leaders use divisive language to vilify people because of their race, religion, or background, they tear at the fabric of our nation. We need leaders who unite us, not divide us,” Suozzi said.
“This potential mass shooting was an act of white supremacist hate against Indian Americans, and it has no place in our country,” Stanton said.
Rosen, a senator from Nevada, said: “This hateful plot has shaken the Hindu community across the country. This should outrage all of us. It's unacceptable for any religious community to be targeted simply because of who they are.”
“It is incumbent on all of us to speak out against hatred and bigotry wherever they arise,” Congressman Bill Foster said.
Illinois Congressman Jonathan Jackson called on President Donald Trump to condemn what he described as an act of white supremacist violence and to step back from rhetoric that feeds it.
The alleged attack was prevented after the teenager's gun failed to fire, while lawmakers and advocacy groups condemned hatred against Indian Americans and Hindus and called for people of all faiths to be able to worship without fear.
With PTI Inputs
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