WASHINGTON, D.C. [US], October 3 (ANI): In an alleged targeted attack at a temple in the United States, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, said that a Hindu temple in Ohio was targeted, with perpetrators hurling bricks at the structure and causing significant damage.
Detailing the incident in a post on X, HAF stated, “Hindu temple attacked in Ohio today | At 1:30 PM today, the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio was attacked by perpetrator(s) who threw bricks at the temple, causing significant damage.”
The incident comes as multiple people, including Indian nationals, are facing violence in the United States.
The organization added, “Surveillance video is available and being reviewed by authorities. The @FBI @CivilRights are being alerted. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and offering all assistance.”
Continuing its statement, the foundation noted, “This possible hate crime comes at a time of unprecedented hate & vitriol directed at the Hindu American community, and we ask that law enforcement make apprehending the perpetrator(s) a top priority.”
The post also stated, “We also call on our nation’s elected leaders & government agencies to publicly & unequivocally condemn hateful rhetoric against Indian and Hindu American communities.”
Elaborating on the incident, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) noted that the Hindu temple located in Ohio’s Greater Cleveland area was attacked with bricks that shattered windows while priests and devotees remained inside.
CoHNA stated that the attack occurred on Friday afternoon, though the organization did not disclose whether any injuries occurred or provide the exact number of damaged windows.
The coalition called on Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and municipal authorities to publicly condemn the incident while demanding prompt action from law enforcement.
Expressing its stance via social media, the organization stated, “We call upon Mayor Kim Thomas and @RichmondHtsOH to condemn such bigotry and @PoliceRichmond to take swift action against the perpetrator.”
The statement did not name any suspect or provide details regarding potential arrests, nor did it outline specific evidence confirming a religious motive behind the attack.
Additionally, the organization highlighted that the incident occurred just as the Hindu community in Ohio began celebrations for Hindu Heritage Month, while also pointing to the upcoming Navratri observances. Hindu Heritage Month is traditionally observed throughout October by various community organizations across the United States.
CoHNA has repeatedly raised concerns about hostility and violence directed at Hindus in the United States, documenting a series of prior temple-related incidents.
Its compiled timeline highlights incidents such as the vandalism of a Mahatma Gandhi statue at Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens, New York, in August 2022, along with hateful graffiti spray-painted at the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, in December 2023. The compiled data documents individual incidents rather than establishing a nationwide annual percentage increase.
Further entries in the chronology note that BAPS temples in Melville, New York, and the Sacramento region of California, experienced vandalism in September 2024.
Subsequently, in March 2025, the BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California, was defaced with malicious messages, following similar incidents previously reported at its New York and Sacramento locations. (ANI)
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