Ohio Hindu temple attacked with bricks: ‘Online hate has morphed’

A Hindu temple in Ohio was attacked with bricks on Friday afternoon, shattering windows while devotees were present, according to The Hindu American Foundation (HAF). The Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights was targeted around 1:30 PM, with bricks allegedly thrown at the building. Priests and devotees were inside the temple at the time.

HAF shared surveillance footage of the incident and reported the attack to authorities, including the FBI and the Civil Rights Division. The organization urged law enforcement to prioritize identifying the perpetrator(s) and called on elected leaders and government agencies to condemn hateful rhetoric against Indian and Hindu American communities.

CoHNA, a coalition of Hindus of North America, stated that the attack occurred while priests and devotees were inside the temple, but did not disclose any injuries or the number of damaged windows. No suspect has been identified, and authorities have not confirmed any arrests or established a religious motive for the attack. This incident occurred as Hindu communities in Ohio were observing Hindu Heritage Month and ahead of Navratri celebrations.