More than 100 members of the U.S. Congress, led by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, have called on the FBI to investigate an attempted attack on a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a federal hate crime. The incident occurred on October 11 at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple. Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schaumburg, was present at the temple with his family during the attempted attack.

Authorities say 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine attempted to open fire at the temple but was thwarted when his rifle jammed. After the malfunction, Paporakis left the site and reportedly confided in a co-worker about plans to return. The co-worker alerted law enforcement, leading to Paporakis’s arrest later that night. He is currently held in Cook County Jail facing charges including making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Officials discovered at Paporakis’s residence a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor, and a patch bearing white supremacist symbols. Prosecutors also revealed that Paporakis had authored an eight-page manifesto espousing white supremacist beliefs and describing violent intent toward people of Indian descent gathered at the place of worship.

In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Krishnamoorthi and 104 other lawmakers—including the entire Illinois Democratic delegation—urged the bureau to thoroughly investigate the attack “as a hate crime,” emphasizing the need to pursue all relevant charges and offer transparency to affected communities. The letter stresses the combination of racial animus, targeting of a religious site, and preparations for mass violence as grounds for a comprehensive federal response.

The members of Congress also requested information on whether the FBI is examining potential racial, ethnic, and religious biases in the case, investigating if online platforms or associates played a role in facilitating the alleged plot, and detailing protective measures taken to safeguard houses of worship without infringing on First Amendment rights. The lawmakers have requested a written response from the FBI by October 29.

Additionally, the letter criticizes certain actions under the previous Trump administration, citing examples of messaging believed to reinforce racial and religious stereotypes against South Asian communities. Among the cited cases were a Department of Homeland Security poster featuring a Sikh man with a disparaging caption and a Department of Education social media post referencing a political slogan after complaints about South Asian attendees at a University of Texas football game.

The letter concludes by urging federal agencies to reject narratives that foster collective suspicion toward Indian, Sikh, Hindu, or other South Asian groups under the guise of immigration or public safety concerns.