Ohio Hindu Temple Attacked With Bricks On Friday Afternoon, Windows Shattered
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A Hindu temple in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was attacked with bricks on Friday afternoon, causing significant damage while priests and devotees were inside, community organisations said.
The Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in the Greater Cleveland area was targeted at around 1.30 pm, according to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). Bricks were thrown at the temple, damaging the building and shattering windows.
Priests And Devotees Were Inside
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) said the attack took place while priests and devotees were present inside the temple.
There was no immediate official confirmation of injuries, and authorities had not publicly identified any suspect or announced an arrest at the time of reporting.
HAF said surveillance footage from the incident was available and was being reviewed by authorities.
FBI And Civil Rights Authorities Alerted
The Hindu American Foundation said it had alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and civil rights authorities about the incident.
HAF described the attack as a possible hate crime and called for those responsible to be identified and arrested. However, no official determination of a religious motive had been announced.
CoHNA also urged Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and local police to condemn the incident and take swift action against those responsible.
Attack Comes Ahead Of Navratri
The incident occurred as Hindu communities in the US began observing Hindu Heritage Month, which is marked during October.
It also came shortly before Navratri celebrations, adding to concerns among local Hindu community members about the safety of places of worship.
Earlier Incidents Recorded At US Hindu Temples
CoHNA has documented several previous incidents involving Hindu temples and religious sites in the US, including vandalism at a Gandhi statue in New York in 2022, graffiti at a Hindu temple in California in 2023, and vandalism at BAPS temples in New York and California in 2024.
A BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California, was also defaced in March 2025, according to the organisation's chronology. These incidents are separate cases and do not by themselves establish a nationwide trend or a common motive.
