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Vandalism · LLA-000055

SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Newark, defaced

Date
22 December 2023
Location
36665 Cedar Boulevard, Newark, California, United States
Community
Hindu
Incident type
Desecration / Vandalism
Religious / Identity Motive ReportedCredible sources report a religious or identity motive; not conclusively established.

Pro-Khalistan graffiti was found on the temple. Newark Police said the defacement appeared targeted and investigated it as a possible hate crime.

Temple Incident Details

Temple / sacred site
SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Newark
Tradition / sampradaya
Not recorded
Incident type
Graffiti
Damage type
Graffiti / defacement
Was anyone inside?
Unknown
Investigation status
Hate-Crime Investigation
Law-enforcement agency
Not publicly identified
Last updated
2026-10-03

Evidence Concerning Targeting or Motive

No specific evidence of motive has been recorded. A perpetrator's religion is never treated as evidence of motive.

Casualties / Displacement

Fatalities
Unknown
Injuries
Unknown
Displaced
Unknown

Where credible sources differ, the archive shows confirmed figures and reported estimates separately rather than a single exact number.

Sources

Primary sources

  1. Hindu temple vandalized in Newark; latest in hateful trend — KTVU FOX 2, 2023-12-27Contemporaneous News ReportCredible local reporting
    Source

Methodology

This record distinguishes documented facts from allegations, estimates and disputed interpretations, and may be revised as reliable evidence emerges. Last reviewed 2026-10-03. Read our research methodology.