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US Lawmaker Demands Action Against Online Hate Following Foiled Temple Attack
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Firstpost•18-10-2026, 14:59
US Lawmaker Demands Action Against Online Hate Following Foiled Temple Attack
- •US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi urged stronger action against online anti-Indian hate after a 19-year-old was arrested for plotting a mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Illinois.
- •The suspect allegedly told a co-worker he could not wait to kill Indians, with investigations highlighting a reported 240 percent surge in anti-South Asian posts on social media.
- •Krishnamoorthi criticized major technology companies for profiting from hateful content and called for reforms to legal protections that shield social media platforms.
- •India expressed deep concern over the incident, urging Washington to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals and other communities facing racial discrimination.
- •The US Congressional Caucus on India requested the FBI and Department of Justice to thoroughly investigate the foiled plot as a federal hate crime.
Key Questions Answered
Nineteen-year-old Alexandros Paporakis was arrested after authorities received information that he planned a mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Aurora, Illinois, on October 11, 2026, which was foiled because his rifle jammed and failed to fire.
The 19-year-old suspect appeared in court on October 14, 2026, facing felony charges of making a terrorist threat and the unlawful possession of weapons.
House India Caucus co-chairs Rich McCormick and Ro Khanna urged Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate the incident as a federal hate crime, determine if anyone else coordinated with the suspect, and share timely threat information with local places of worship.
