Illinois, Oct. 15 -- The Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council (HMEC) in the US on Wednesday (local time) urged temples and devotees to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activity following the arrest of a 19-year-old man accused of plotting a mass shooting targeting a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois, describing the alleged incident as part of a troubling pattern of threats against Hindu religious institutions.

The council strongly condemned acts of hatred and violence directed at faith communities, noting that the alleged attack was thwarted through timely reporting and swift action by law enforcement authorities.

"HMEC is deeply concerned by reports of an alleged plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. We ...