Alexandros Paporakis, 19, arrested in alleged temple shooting plot.
A group of 105 US lawmakers has urged the FBI to investigate an alleged shooting plot at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a potential federal hate crime, citing concerns about anti-Indian, anti-Hindu and broader anti-South Asian hostility.Led by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday, asking for an update on the investigation into the alleged plot at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple and the bureau’s efforts to address credible threats against South Asian communities.Krishnamoorthi and his family were worshipping at the temple when the alleged incident occurred on October 11.“The alleged combination of targeted racial hatred, a religious setting, and preparations for mass violence demands a comprehensive federal response,” the lawmakers wrote.
The group included the entire Illinois House Democratic delegation, every Indian American member of Congress, and Senators Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim and Chris Van Hollen.Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested on October 11 in connection with the alleged plot. According to prosecutors, he attempted to shoot a man outside the temple, but his rifle jammed. He fled the scene and later communicated plans to return, prompting a co-worker to alert police, who arrested him that day.
Prosecutors allege that Paporakis, who identified himself as a neo-Nazi, wrote an eight-page white supremacist manifesto describing violence against people of Indian descent at a Hindu place of worship. Investigators recovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armour and white supremacist imagery, as per the press release.The letter asks whether the FBI is examining potential racial, ethnic and religious bias in the case and whether online platforms or other individuals may have helped facilitate the alleged plot.
The lawmakers also want to know whether the bureau is coordinating with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the relevant US Attorney’s Office.The request comes amid concerns about online hate targeting South Asians in the US. The lawmakers cited a September 2026 report that identified more than 542,000 anti-South Asian hateful posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026. The monthly volume reportedly rose by about 240% between January 2024 and June 2026.They also cited a Carnegie Endowment survey in which 48% of Indian American respondents said they had encountered racist posts targeting their community very or somewhat often since the start of 2025. One in four respondents reported being called a slur.The letter criticised messages posted by Trump administration agencies that the lawmakers said risk reinforcing racial and religious stereotypes. Examples included a Department of Homeland Security post targeting a Sikh man with a remark about driving and a Department of Education post declaring “Make College Football Great Again” after a Texas Republican complained about South Asians attending a University of Texas football game.The lawmakers argued that political debates over immigration and public safety should not lead to collective suspicion of Indian, Sikh, Hindu or other South Asian communities.They have asked the FBI to clarify how it distinguishes protected speech, including offensive expression, from credible threats that warrant investigation. They also want details of how actionable intelligence is shared with local law enforcement and potentially targeted places of worship.Other questions concern whether the bureau has sufficient personnel, language expertise and analytical resources to assess threats involving anti-Indian, anti-Hindu and broader anti-South Asian bias.The lawmakers requested a written response by October 29, to the extent permitted by the ongoing investigation. They urged the bureau to examine all relevant evidence, pursue applicable offences and explain what steps are being taken to protect affected communities.