Police arrest US teen in alleged Illinois Hindu temple mass shooting plot | Racism News
Teen Arrested in Illinois Following Alleged Mass Shooting Plot
Palatine, Ill. — A 19-year-old man has been arrested in a Chicago suburb after sharing disturbing messages that included plans for a potential mass shooting, targeting a Hindu place of worship, authorities said.
Alexandros Paporakis, of Palatine, was taken into custody on Sunday after a coworker reported receiving alarming electronic communications from him. According to police, it is unclear if Paporakis has legal representation.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Paporakis’s residence, where they confiscated a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Additionally, a tactical vest equipped with body armor and a patch associated with white supremacist extremism was found among the recovered items.
According to prosecutors from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, the suspect had openly identified himself as a white supremacist at work and expressed a desire to kill Indian people. Detectives also discovered a document titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)” containing extremist ideologies and references to violence targeting South Asians, specifically individuals of Indian descent.
Authorities believe Paporakis may have intended to carry out the attack on Sunday at a Hindu temple located in Aurora, approximately 40 miles southwest of Palatine. However, police noted that the specific location remains unconfirmed and is still under investigation, with assistance from the FBI.
Paporakis faces felony charges for making a terrorist threat and for possessing an unlawful weapon. He appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday, and his next court appearance is scheduled for late October.
Human rights advocates have remarked on the increasing hate directed at South Asians in the United States, attributing the rise to growing anti-immigration sentiments and a surge in white supremacist ideology.
