Hindu temple vandalised in Ohio, windows shattered in suspected hate crime
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) called on Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and local authorities to condemn the incident and urged police to quickly identify and take action against those responsible.
PTC News Desk: A Hindu temple in Ohio, US, was allegedly attacked with bricks on October 2, causing significant damage to the building. Devotees were reportedly inside the temple when the incident took place.
The Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, in the Greater Cleveland area, was targeted at around 1:30 pm. In a post on X, Hindu American Foundation wrote, "The Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights was attacked by perpetrator(s). Surveillance video is available and being reviewed by authorities. The @FBI@Civil Rights are being alerted. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and offering all assistance."
"This possible hate crime comes at a time of unprecedented hate and vitriol directed at the Hindu American community. We ask that law enforcement make apprehending the perpetrator(s) a top priority. We also call on our nation’s elected leaders and government agencies to publicly and unequivocally condemn hateful rhetoric against Indian and Hindu American communities.’’
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) called on Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and local authorities to condemn the incident and urged police to quickly identify and take action against those responsible.
The organisation did not name any suspect or provide details about arrests. It also did not present specific evidence confirming that the attack was motivated by religion.
CoHNA said the incident occurred as the Hindu community in Ohio was beginning celebrations for Hindu Heritage Month, which is observed across the US during October. The incident also came ahead of Navratri celebrations.
CoHNA has previously reported several cases of vandalism at Hindu temples and religious sites in the US. These include damage to a Mahatma Gandhi statue at Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens in 2022, hateful graffiti at the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, in 2023, and vandalism at BAPS temples in New York and California in 2024 and 2025.