By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – According to the Hindu American Foundation on Saturday a Hindu temple in Ohio was attacked with bricks caused significant damage to the building while priests and devotees were inside.
The Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights was targeted around 1:30 pm, HAF stated
According to media reports the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, in the Greater Cleveland area, was targeted around 1:30 pm.
Bricks were thrown at the temple, shattering windows, the Coalition of Hindus of North America said.
The Hindu American Foundation said surveillance footage of the incident was available and was being reviewed by authorities.
The organization said it was in touch with temple leaders and offering assistance. It also said the FBI and civil rights authorities were being alerted.
HAF said the incident could be a hate crime and urged law enforcement agencies to make identifying those responsible a priority.
The organization also called on elected leaders and government agencies to condemn hateful rhetoric directed at Indian and Hindu American communities.
CoHNA said the attack happened while priests and devotees were present inside the temple.
The organization did not provide details about any injuries or the exact number of windows damaged.
CoHNA urged Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and local authorities to condemn the incident and called for swift police action against those responsible.
No suspect has been publicly identified and there was no immediate confirmation of any arrests. Authorities have also not established a religious motive behind the attack, media reported.
The incident came as Hindu communities in Ohio began observing Hindu Heritage Month, which is marked by various organizations across the US during October. It also took place ahead of Navratri celebrations.
CoHNA has previously documented several incidents involving vandalism at Hindu temples and religious sites in the US.
Its records include damage to a Mahatma Gandhi statue at Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens, New York, in August 2022 and hateful graffiti at the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, in December 2023.
BAPS temples in Melville, New York, and the Sacramento area of California were also vandalized in September 2024.
In March 2025, a BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California, was defaced with messages targeting the Hindu community.
