Friday 16th October 2026: Hindu community leaders in the United States say a foiled attack on a temple near Chicago was the result of a surge in online hate.
According to the Associated Press (AP), a 19-year-old man allegedly drove to the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Illinois, on Sunday 11th October, the first day of Navaratri, with a rifle. His weapon reportedly jammed, and a co-worker’s tip led to his arrest later that day. He has been charged and has not been convicted.
Pushpita Prasad of the Coalition of Hindus of North America told AP, “Sooner or later, all that online hate is going to migrate to the real world.” Joel Finkelstein of the Network Contagion Research Institute said anti-Indian content on X tripled in weekly volume in 2025. Stop AAPI Hate says its research found online slurs targeting South Asians rose 109% between 2023 and 2025. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was inside the temple that day, has called for the case to be prosecuted as a hate crime.
With Diwali on Sunday 8th November, British temples will welcome large numbers of visitors over the coming fortnight. Temple committees are encouraged to review their security arrangements, look out for one another, and report any concern to the police early.
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