Why this matters: Congress wants the FBI to say by October 29 whether an alleged attack on a place of worship is being treated as a hate crime.
October 21, 2026 — 105 members of Congress, led by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, have urged FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate the attempted mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a potential federal hate crime, according to Krishnamoorthi's office and news reports published on October 20 and 21.
The group includes the entire Illinois House Democratic delegation, every Indian American member of Congress, and Senators Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim and Chris Van Hollen. Krishnamoorthi and his family were worshipping at the temple on October 11.
Image: The U.S. Capitol and a Hindu temple congregation at dawn, symbolising Congress pressing for federal protection for houses of worship. Credit: AI-generated illustration / Red Eye Eagle News.
Editor's Highlight: More than one hundred lawmakers are asking five specific questions, setting an October 29 deadline, and linking one alleged Illinois plot to a sharp rise in online hostility toward South Asians.
Table of Contents
- What Happened at the Aurora Temple
- What the 105 Lawmakers Are Asking the FBI
- The Online Hostility Cited in the Letter
- The Dispute Over Federal Agency Messaging
- Bottom Line
- FAQ
- Sources
Key Facts
| Who led the letter | Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) |
| How many signed | 105 members of Congress, including 4 senators |
| Sent to | FBI Director Kash Patel |
| Incident | Attempted shooting, Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple, Aurora, Oct. 11 |
| Suspect named by prosecutors | Alexandros Paporakis, 19, self-identified neo-Nazi, according to prosecutors |
| What lawmakers want | Investigation as a potential federal hate crime |
| Reply requested by | October 29, 2026 |
| Data cited | More than 542,000 anti-South Asian hateful posts on X, Jan. 2025–June 2026 |
What Happened at the Aurora Temple
According to prosecutors, cited in Krishnamoorthi's statement and in multiple news reports, Alexandros Paporakis, 19, tried to shoot a man outside the temple, but his rifle jammed.
He fled, the reports say. He later communicated plans to return, according to prosecutors.
A coworker then alerted police, who arrested him that day.
Prosecutors allege an eight-page white supremacist manifesto describing violence against people of Indian descent. Investigators recovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor and white supremacist imagery.
Those are allegations attributed to prosecutors, and the letter itself uses the word “alleged” throughout.
Newsroom Focus: A weapon failure, a message about returning, and a coworker's tip are the steps that, according to prosecutors, led to an arrest the same day.
| Date | Event |
| October 11, 2026 | Attempted attack at the Aurora temple; suspect arrested the same day, according to prosecutors |
| October 20, 2026 | Letter from 105 lawmakers reported; Krishnamoorthi statement published |
| October 21, 2026 | ANI and PTI reports of the letter published internationally |
| October 29, 2026 | Written FBI response requested by lawmakers |
What the 105 Lawmakers Are Asking the FBI
The letter poses five questions: Is the FBI investigating the case as a potential federal hate crime, examining both racial and religious bias? Is it coordinating with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office? Were online platforms or others used to facilitate the alleged plot? What is being done to identify credible threats, share information with local law enforcement and houses of worship, and offer protection? And does the Bureau have enough personnel and language expertise for anti-South Asian threats?
The lawmakers wrote: “The alleged combination of targeted racial hatred, a religious setting, and preparations for mass violence demands a comprehensive federal response.” They said they appreciate the FBI's reported assistance so far.
The Online Hostility Cited in the Letter
The letter cites a September 2026 report identifying more than 542,000 anti-South Asian hateful posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026, with monthly volume up about 240 percent from January 2024 to June 2026.
It also cites a Carnegie Endowment survey in which 48 percent of Indian American respondents said they encountered racist posts often since early 2025, and one in four reported being called a slur.
Analysis Note: Those figures, as cited by the lawmakers, explain why the request covers online threats as well as the Aurora case alone.
The Dispute Over Federal Agency Messaging
The letter also criticises Trump administration messaging — a claim by the lawmakers, not a finding by this newsroom. They cite a Department of Homeland Security post depicting a Sikh man with the message, “Get off our roads, you don't know how to drive Mr. Singh,” and a Department of Education post declaring “Make College Football Great Again” after a Texas Republican complained about South Asians at a University of Texas football game.
“We believe such messaging risks lending governmental legitimacy to racial and religious stereotyping,” the lawmakers wrote, according to the statement.
No response from the FBI or the two departments was included in the sources read for this article, so that criticism should be read as the signers' stated position.
Practical Takeaway: For congregations, the practical question is what threat information will be shared, and what protection will be offered.
Bottom Line
105 lawmakers have put the FBI on a public timeline. By October 29, they want written answers on bias, coordination, online facilitation, threat-sharing and capacity.
What to watch next is whether the Bureau confirms a hate-crime investigation, and whether its reply addresses protection for houses of worship beyond this one case.
As the lawmakers put it: “No one should fear being targeted because of their ancestry, appearance, or faith.”
FAQ
Who led the letter to the FBI?
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois led it. He and his family were worshipping at the Aurora temple on October 11, according to his office.
How many lawmakers signed, and who was included?
105 members of Congress signed, including every Indian American member, the entire Illinois House Democratic delegation, and Senators Durbin, Duckworth, Kim and Van Hollen.
What are prosecutors alleging about October 11?
Prosecutors allege a 19-year-old, Alexandros Paporakis, tried to shoot a man outside the temple, his rifle jammed, and he was arrested the same day after a coworker alerted police. Those are allegations, not findings reported here as proven.
What exactly do lawmakers want from FBI Director Kash Patel?
A written response by October 29, 2026 on the hate-crime question, online threats, and protection for houses of worship.
Why did the letter cite online posts and a survey?
To support its wider request on online threats, citing more than 542,000 anti-South Asian posts on X and the Carnegie survey cited above.
Sources
- U.S. House — Rep. Krishnamoorthi press release: http://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/krishnamoorthi-leads-105-lawmakers-urging-fbi-hate-crime-probe-after-attempted
- South Asian Herald (Oct. 20, 2026): https://southasianherald.com/rep-krishnamoorthi-leads-congressional-call-for-aurora-temple-hate-crime-investigation/
- Latestly / ANI (Oct. 21, 2026): https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/world-news-105-members-of-us-congress-urge-fbi-to-investigate-illinois-hindu-temple-shooting-plot-as-potential-hate-crime-7651436.html
- Dainik News Live / PTI: https://dainiknewslive.in/over-100-us-lawmakers-seek-hate-crime-probe-into-illinois-temple-attack/
- Image: AI-generated illustration / Red Eye Eagle News (original hero illustration).
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