US Hindu Temple Attack: Ohio’s Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Targeted With Bricks, Windows Shattered (Video)
A Hindu temple in Ohio’s Greater Cleveland area was allegedly attacked with bricks on Friday afternoon, causing significant damage to the premises and shattering windows while priests and devotees were inside, according to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).
A Hindu temple in Ohio’s Greater Cleveland area was allegedly attacked with bricks on Friday afternoon, causing significant damage to the premises and shattering windows while priests and devotees were inside, according to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).
The incident took place at the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said perpetrators hurled bricks at the temple at around 1:30 PM, causing significant damage. The organisation said surveillance footage was available and was being reviewed by authorities.
Ohio’s Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Targeted With Bricks, Windows Shattered
This outrageous attack comes on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and the beginning of Hindu Heritage Month as decreed by the state of Ohio.
Hope to see extensive coverage of this:@cleveland19news @wkyc @WEWS @fox8news @clevelanddotcom @PlainDealer https://t.co/Wlw3nw3aAr
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) October 3, 2026
HAF said it was in contact with temple leaders and had alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its civil rights division. The organisation described the incident as a possible hate crime and called for authorities to identify those responsible. US Temple Vandalisation: Hindu Mahasabha Chief Chakrapani Calls for Action After BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple Desecrated in Sacramento (Watch Video).
CoHNA also urged Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and local authorities to condemn the incident and called on police to take swift action. The organisation said no suspect had been identified publicly and did not provide evidence establishing a religious motive for the attack.
According to CoHNA, the attack occurred as priests and devotees were present inside the temple. The organisation did not report any injuries or provide an exact count of the windows damaged. ISKCON Temple Targeted in US: 20 to 30 Bullets Fired at Hindu Temple in Utah in Suspected Hate Crime; India Urges Swift Action and Stands in Solidarity With Community.
The incident comes as Hindu communities in the US begin observing Hindu Heritage Month in October, with Navratri also approaching. CoHNA has pointed to several previous incidents of vandalism involving Hindu temples and religious sites across the United States, while noting that its timeline documents individual incidents and does not establish a nationwide annual increase in such attacks.
Authorities are reviewing available surveillance footage as the investigation into the Ohio temple attack continues.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2026 10:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
