Ohio Hindu temple hit by brick attack while priests, devotees were inside

### Ohio Hindu Temple Vandalized With Bricks While Priests and Devotees Were Inside

A Hindu temple in the Greater Cleveland area of Ohio was vandalized Friday afternoon after bricks were allegedly thrown at the building, shattering windows while priests and devotees were inside, according to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).

The incident occurred at the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. HAF said the attack took place at about 1:30 p.m., with bricks thrown at the temple and causing significant damage. Surveillance footage from the site is being reviewed by authorities.

CoHNA said priests and some devotees were inside the temple when the windows were shattered. The organizations have not reported any injuries connected to the incident.

The attack has prompted calls from Hindu American advocacy groups for a swift investigation and greater attention to the safety of Hindu religious institutions. HAF said it was in contact with temple leaders and providing assistance following the vandalism.

HAF also said the FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division were being alerted about the incident. The organization described the attack as a possible hate crime, but authorities have not publicly established a motive or confirmed that the incident will be prosecuted as a hate crime.

CoHNA called on Richmond Heights officials and police to respond to the incident. The organization urged Mayor Kim Thomas and local authorities to condemn the vandalism and called for law enforcement to identify the person or people responsible.

HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla also condemned the reported attack and urged authorities to examine available surveillance footage as part of their investigation.

The incident comes as Ohio’s Indian American community prepares for Hindu Heritage Month and the upcoming Navratri celebrations. The timing has added concern among community organizations about security at Hindu temples and other religious sites.

Hindu American organizations have previously documented vandalism and other incidents involving Hindu religious sites across the United States. HAF has cited earlier cases involving temples and Hindu-related sites in New York, California and other states.

Among the incidents previously documented by the organization was vandalism involving a Gandhi statue at Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens, New York, in 2022, as well as graffiti at the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, in 2023.

HAF has also reported incidents involving BAPS temples in New York and California in 2024, including hateful messages found at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Chino Hills, California.

The Richmond Heights incident is now under review as authorities examine available evidence and surveillance footage. No suspect has been publicly identified, and a religious motive has not been established.

For the local Hindu community, the incident has renewed concerns about security at places of worship as temples prepare for upcoming religious observances. Advocacy organizations are urging local and federal authorities to investigate the vandalism and determine who was responsible.

The investigation will ultimately determine whether the incident was motivated by religious bias and whether it meets the legal definition of a hate crime.