A bipartisan coalition of 105 US lawmakers has formally requested that the FBI conduct a thorough federal investigation into an alleged shooting plot at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple in Aurora, Illinois. The letter, sent to FBI Director Kash Patel, describes the incident as a potential federal hate crime and demands a comprehensive review of the bureau's efforts to mitigate threats against South Asian communities across the country.
The effort is being led by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was reportedly worshipping at the temple with his family when the incident unfolded on October 11. The signatories to the letter include the entire Illinois House Democratic delegation, every Indian American member of Congress, and prominent Senators such as Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Chris Van Hollen. The group argued that the combination of targeted racial hatred, a religious setting, and clear preparations for mass violence necessitates a federal, rather than purely local, response.
The incident concerns the arrest of 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis, who was apprehended by police on the same day as the alleged attempt. According to reports from prosecutors, Paporakis allegedly attempted to fire upon an individual outside the temple, but his rifle jammed. After fleeing the scene, he reportedly spoke of plans to return, leading a co-worker to contact law enforcement. Upon his arrest, authorities allegedly recovered a rifle, ammunition, body armour, and evidence of a white supremacist manifesto written by the suspect, who identified himself as a neo-Nazi.
In their letter, the lawmakers have posed several critical questions regarding the breadth of the FBI's investigation. They are seeking clarification on whether the bureau is examining potential racial, ethnic, and religious bias and if other individuals or online platforms contributed to the plot. Furthermore, they have requested information on how the FBI coordinates with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and whether the agency possesses sufficient linguistic and analytical resources to monitor threats targeting Indian, Hindu, and broader South Asian communities.
This push for a federal probe occurs against a backdrop of escalating concern regarding online hate speech. The lawmakers highlighted data from a September 2026 report indicating that over 542,000 hateful posts targeting South Asians were identified on X between January 2025 and June 2026, marking a 240% increase in monthly volume. A Carnegie Endowment survey was also cited, showing that 48% of Indian American respondents have frequently encountered racist posts targeting their community since the beginning of 2025.
The letter also criticises specific actions taken by Trump administration agencies, which the lawmakers claim risk reinforcing dangerous stereotypes. They pointed to a Department of Homeland Security post targeting a Sikh man and a Department of Education statement regarding college football as examples of rhetoric that can inadvertently contribute to a climate of suspicion. The lawmakers maintained that intense political debates over public safety and immigration must not translate into the collective targeting of specific religious or ethnic groups.
The lawmakers have requested a written response from the FBI by October 29. They have specifically asked the bureau to outline the steps being taken to protect places of worship and to clarify the threshold between protected speech and actionable, credible threats that warrant intensive investigation. As the case against Paporakis proceeds through the judicial system, the lawmakers continue to press for broader clarity on how the federal government plans to address the intersection of white supremacist ideology and violence against minority populations in the United States.
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