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Washington: An incident involving an attack with bricks on a Hindu (Hindu ) temple in the US state of Ohio has come to light. The incident took place at the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Temple in Richmond Heights, within the Greater Cleveland area. According to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), attackers threw bricks at the temple building, causing significant damage. A priest and some devotees were present inside the temple when the incident occurred.
Temple windows smashed by thrown bricks
In a social media post, the HAF stated that the temple building was targeted and bricks were thrown during the attack. This shattered the windowpanes and caused property damage. According to the organization, CCTV footage of the incident exists, and officials are investigating it. No suspect has been identified yet, and there have been no reports of arrests.
FBI informed about the incident
The Hindu American Foundation has termed this incident a potential hate crime, though investigative agencies have not yet confirmed a religious motive behind the attack. The HAF stated that the CCTV footage is being reviewed and the FBI, along with its Civil Rights Unit, is being informed about the matter. The organization has also reached out to temple leaders, pledging all possible assistance.
Call to condemn hate speech
The HAF appealed to elected US officials and government agencies to publicly and unequivocally condemn hate speech directed at the Indian and Hindu-American communities. The organization also urged law enforcement agencies to prioritize apprehending those responsible for the attack. However, the police have not yet released official information regarding any suspects or the motive behind the attack. CoHNA Demands Action
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also shared details regarding the incident. According to the organization, the temple’s windowpanes were shattered in an attack involving bricks; the priest and devotees were present inside at the time. The organization demanded that Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and the local administration publicly condemn the incident and urged the police to take swift action against the accused.
Attack Occurs Ahead of Hindu Heritage Month and Navratri
CoHNA noted that the incident took place just as Ohio’s Hindu community was beginning to observe Hindu Heritage Month. Many community organizations across the US celebrate Hindu Heritage Month in October. Additionally, the festival of Navratri is approaching. The organization expressed concern regarding temple security in light of these upcoming events. However, available information does not confirm a direct link between the attack and these events.
Previous Incidents of Temple Vandalism in the US
CoHNA also highlighted past incidents involving Hindu religious sites in the US. According to its records, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalized at the Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens, New York, in August 2022. In December 2023, offensive graffiti was scrawled on the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Newark, California. Incidents of vandalism were also recorded at BAPS temples in Melville, New York, and the Sacramento area of California in September 2024.
California Temple Targeted in 2025
CoHNA’s records also include an incident from March 2025. According to the report, the BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California, was damaged after offensive messages were written on the premises. Similar incidents had previously been reported at BAPS temples in the New York and Sacramento areas. The organization has highlighted these incidents as a matter of concern regarding the security of Hindu places of worship. Notably, a Hindu temple in the US was also targeted last year, with 20 to 30 rounds fired at it.
