U.S. Hindu Temple Attack Plot: Teen Arrested With Rifle, FBI Joins Probe | MEA Expresses Concern

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Illinois over an alleged plot to attack Hindu worshippers around the first day of Navratri. According to the details outlined in court documents, the suspect allegedly attempted to fire a modified AR-style rifle, which reportedly malfunctioned. Investigators say a colleague alerted authorities after receiving a video related to the incident. Police reportedly recovered a manifesto titled Why I Fought, along with firearms, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and body armour. The FBI is assisting local authorities, and Hindu places of worship have been alerted. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed deep concern, calling the incident particularly disturbing and highlighting worries over racist hostility and anti-India hate in the United States. The case has renewed questions about extremist radicalisation, anti-immigrant rhetoric and the safety of the Indian-American community. The allegations remain subject to the ongoing legal process.