FBI investigating Missouri Hindu Temple Bombing

ST. LOUIS  - Security is being stepped up for a Hindu temple that was firebombed twice in a week and federal agents are trying to determine if the attacks were youthful mischief or hate-fueled religious bigotry.

No one was injured by the attacks that slightly damaged the Hindu Temple of St. Louis on Feb. 23 and March 1. The temple¹s massive metal doors blocked the first firebomb, and flame-retardant carpeting limited damage from the second, which was thrown through a window.

There was no immediate indication if the Feb. 23 attack was related to one that same day at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City in Shawnee, Kan., about 250 miles away, where someone broke the glass front door and caused $700 in damage.

Temple officials were concerned about whether the violence could escalate, possibly involving someone who wrongly equates Hindus with Islamic extremists. Several mosques and temples across the country and Canada have been vandalized since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"If it´s a simple act of mischief, that¹s OK, I guess," said Harinath Bathina, volunteer president of the Shawnee temple´s executive committee. "But if it¹s premeditated, that¹s cause for ill concern."

Each temple is about 12 years old and serves roughly 600 families.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were investigating the St. Louis-area firebombings. In the Shawnee case, however, FBI agent Jeff Lanza said the damage did not rise to the level of a hate crime.

Officials of the St. Louis temple were considering security upgrades, including fencing the property and installing outdoor surveillance cameras, lights and motion detectors.