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US lawmakers urge federal hate crime probe into Aurora temple shooting plot
US lawmakers are calling for a federal hate crime investigation following a foiled mass shooting attempt at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Illinois. The House India Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, has urged the Department of Justice and the FBI to probe the incident to determine if the attack was motivated by hate.
Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested in Palatine after allegedly attempting to attack the temple with an AR-15 and 300 rounds of ammunition. The suspect reportedly fired one shot at a passerby before his weapon jammed. According to court documents, Paporakis wrote an eight-page manifesto in which he described Indians, Jews, and Black people as ‘sub human’ and stated he targeted the temple to ‘destroy’ something for pleasure.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was present at the temple with his family during the incident, described the event as a deeply disturbing act of hate. Lawmakers cited a 240 percent increase in anti-South Asian hate posts on the social media platform X between January 2024 and June 2026 as evidence of a growing trend of online hostility translating into real-world violence. The Indian government has also expressed concern, requesting that Washington ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the United States.
Entities
Alexandros Paporakis · Chuck Schumer · Department of Justice · FBI · House India Caucus · Raja Krishnamoorthi · Ro Khanna · Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple · Sri Venkateswara temple
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The 19-year-old suspect wrote an eight-page manifesto describing minorities as sub-human. bhaskarlive.in
- [● 3 SOURCES] The suspect's firearm jammed after firing one shot at a passerby. www.newsmobile.in · www.deccanchronicle.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Anti-South Asian hate posts on X increased by approximately 240 percent between January 2024 and June 2026. bhaskarlive.in · www.socialnews.xyz · theshillongtimes.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The suspect was in possession of 300 rounds of ammunition during the incident. www.deccanchronicle.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The suspect was arrested in Palatine, Illinois, and charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. www.newsmobile.in · theshillongtimes.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The House India Caucus requested the DOJ and FBI investigate the Aurora temple incident as a potential federal hate crime. bhaskarlive.in · www.socialnews.xyz · www.news18.com · www.timesnownews.com