Chicago Suburbs Increase Security at Places of Worship Following Alleged Plot to Attack Hindu Temple

CHICAGO–Police in Naperville, Illinois, have increased patrols around religious institutions and are offering free security assessments to places of worship following an alleged attempt to attack a Hindu temple in neighboring Aurora earlier this month.

The heightened security measures come more than two weeks after authorities said a 19-year-old man with alleged white supremacist beliefs attempted to carry out a shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora on October 11.

Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres outlined the department’s response during an interfaith gathering titled “Dialogue on Hate Crimes” at Wesley United Methodist Church, according to local broadcaster NCTV17.

More than 50 representatives from at least seven religious communities attended the event, which focused on strengthening security, addressing religious hatred and encouraging cooperation between law enforcement and faith organizations.

Arres said the police department is offering free assessments to help religious institutions identify potential security vulnerabilities.

“We have a group that will come in and does assessments of your places of worship,” Arres said. “Everything from where you have cameras, if you need them, where you may even trim bushes or add lighting to keep [your facility] safe, all kinds of free things that we’ll do to help the security of our community.”

He also encouraged religious leaders to participate in the department’s free Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events training program, which provides guidance on responding to potentially violent incidents.

“If you see something suspicious, if you’re worried about something, you’re not bothering us, and it’s okay to call 911 in those situations,” Arres said.

The interfaith meeting was organized by United for Peace and the Naperville Interfaith Leaders Association in response to the alleged attack at the Aurora temple, which occurred on the first day of Navaratri, a major Hindu festival.

Shalini Gupta, a board member of United for Peace, said the suspect’s alleged writings reflected hostility toward several racial and religious communities.

“The manifesto the shooter had expressed hate towards many communities and the Jewish community, African Americans, Indians, and others,” Gupta said.

Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli condemned the alleged attack and emphasized that hatred and religious intimidation have no place in the community.

“There was an attempted attack on our residents, members of our community, who were at a Hindu temple in Aurora, by somebody who was full of hate and all sorts of ideas that our community just does not tolerate,” Wehrli said.

He also called for continued dialogue among religious and community groups beyond moments of crisis.

“I find it ironic that hate has brought us together here to have real community conversations, but those conversations have to continue not just when tragedies occur,” he said.

Aurora Mayor John Laesch also attended the gathering.

For Indian American families who regularly visit the temple, the alleged incident has heightened concerns about safety at religious institutions.

“To see that happen so close to home, it was scary, that’s a temple that our family goes to,” said Naperville resident Saily Joshi.

Rabbi David Eber of Congregation Beth Shalom noted that synagogues across the United States have already implemented similar security precautions in response to threats targeting religious communities.

According to prosecutors, Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, allegedly attempted to shoot a man outside the Aurora temple, but his rifle malfunctioned.

Authorities allege that Paporakis, who identified himself as a neo-Nazi, had written an eight-page white supremacist manifesto describing violence against people of Indian descent at a Hindu place of worship.

He faces state charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a short-barreled rifle, according to the Palatine Police Department.

His next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.

No federal charges have been announced, although the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has indicated that it is reviewing the case.

The alleged attack has also drawn attention from federal lawmakers.

A group of 105 members of Congress, led by Indian American Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, has asked FBI Director Kash Patel to clarify whether the bureau is investigating the incident as a potential federal hate crime.

Krishnamoorthi was reportedly at the temple with his family when the alleged attack occurred.

The lawmakers requested a response from the FBI by October 29.

As authorities continue reviewing the case, local officials are urging religious institutions to strengthen security arrangements and maintain communication with police to help protect worshippers across the Chicago suburbs. (Source: IANS)