A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Illinois in the US for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. Investigators recovered a manifesto expressing white supremacist views and referring to violence against people of Indian descent, news agency PTI reported.
Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 after police received information about a potential mass shooting. A judge ordered him detained following a hearing on Wednesday at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows. He is scheduled to appear in court again on October 30.
The investigation began after Mount Prospect Police received information from an individual who reported receiving concerning electronic communications from Paporakis. According to investigators, he had shared a document outlining an alleged mass shooting plan, along with images of a rifle, magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment.
Police said detectives examined the communications and a document titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter's manifesto)". It allegedly contained extremist statements, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
"Based on information developed during the investigation, detectives believe Paporakis may have been planning to carry out an attack on Sunday, October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area," the Palatine Police Department said on Wednesday. The intended location has not been confirmed and remains under investigation.
Officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his residence on October 11. A subsequent search of his home led to the recovery of a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment.
Investigators also found a vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism
The Aurora Police Department was alerted to the potential threat and contacted Hindu places of worship in its jurisdiction to inform them of the investigation.
The Consulate General of India in Chicago said it was aware of the incident and praised the "timely action" of law enforcement authorities.
"The Consulate is aware of reports concerning a foiled attempt to target a place of worship in Aurora, Illinois. We appreciate the timely action by law enforcement authorities. We are in touch with members of the Indian diaspora and are closely monitoring developments," the Consulate General of India in Chicago wrote on X.
Paporakis faces one count each of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon, specifically a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord credited the prompt sharing of information between the two police departments for helping authorities identify and arrest the suspect.
The department said it was working with the FBI to investigate the case and assess whether additional charges were warranted. Authorities said they had not identified any known ongoing threat to the public linked to the incident.
FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen said the agency worked with local and state law enforcement partners to investigate threats of violence driven by radical ideologies.
The Hindu American Foundation welcomed the police action in a post on X, urging people to remain vigilant and report potential threats. It said every community deserved to worship without fear.
