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International
Over 100 US lawmakers call for hate‑crime investigation into Illinois temple attack
✍️ India Today
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 03:03 AM
👁 17
More than a hundred members of the US Congress have urged the Department of Justice to treat the recent Illinois Hindu temple attack as a hate crime and launch a probe.
Over a hundred members of the United States Congress have signed a letter urging the Department of Justice to open a hate‑crime investigation into the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Illinois. The lawmakers contend that the assault appears to be motivated by religious bias and therefore warrants federal scrutiny.
The letter, submitted to senior DOJ officials, asks for a thorough review of the incident’s circumstances and for any applicable hate‑crime statutes to be applied. It reflects growing concern among legislators about the rise of religiously‑motivated violence in the United States.
The Illinois attack, which targeted a place of worship, has sparked alarm among Hindu community leaders and civil‑rights groups, who fear it could signal a broader pattern of intolerance. While the Department of Justice has not yet issued a formal response, the congressional push signals heightened political attention to the case.
If the DOJ proceeds with a hate‑crime probe, it could lead to additional resources for the investigation and potential federal charges, underscoring the seriousness with which US lawmakers view attacks on religious sites.
The letter, submitted to senior DOJ officials, asks for a thorough review of the incident’s circumstances and for any applicable hate‑crime statutes to be applied. It reflects growing concern among legislators about the rise of religiously‑motivated violence in the United States.
The Illinois attack, which targeted a place of worship, has sparked alarm among Hindu community leaders and civil‑rights groups, who fear it could signal a broader pattern of intolerance. While the Department of Justice has not yet issued a formal response, the congressional push signals heightened political attention to the case.
If the DOJ proceeds with a hate‑crime probe, it could lead to additional resources for the investigation and potential federal charges, underscoring the seriousness with which US lawmakers view attacks on religious sites.