Illinois teen arrested for allegedly planning mass shooting at Hindu Temple in Aurora
A 19-year-old was arrested in Illinois for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora. Police found a manifesto and weapons at his home
PTC Web Desk: A 19-year-old youth has been arrested in the US state of Illinois on charges linked to a suspected plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora. The police say they found a written manifesto that had white supremacist views and talked about violence against people of Indian origin.
The accused, Alexandros Paporakis, lives in Palatine. He was arrested on October 11 after the police got a tip about a possible shooting. On Wednesday, a judge ordered him to remain in custody after a hearing at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows. His next court date is October 30.
How the case began
Mount Prospect Police started the investigation after a person told them he had received worrying messages from Paporakis. According to investigators, Paporakis had sent a document describing a mass shooting plan, along with photos of a rifle, magazines, body armour and other tactical gear.
Detectives went through the messages and a document titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter’s manifesto)”. Police say it contained extremist statements, including references to violence against people of South Asian origin, especially Indian descent.
The Palatine Police Department said detectives believe he may have been planning an attack on Sunday, October 11, possibly at a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. It added that the exact target has not been confirmed and is still being investigated.
Weapons found at his home
Officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments arrested him as he was leaving his house on October 11. A search of the home turned up a rifle, several loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment. Police also found a vest with body armour and a patch showing imagery linked to white supremacist extremism.
Aurora Police were told about the threat and contacted Hindu places of worship in their area to inform them.
Charges
Paporakis faces one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, specifically a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord said quick sharing of information between the two police departments helped officers identify and arrest the suspect. The department is working with the FBI to find out whether more charges are needed. Authorities said they have not identified any ongoing threat to the public linked to this case.
FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen said the agency works with local and state partners to investigate threats of violence driven by radical ideologies.
The Hindu American Foundation welcomed the police action in a post on X. It urged people to stay alert and report any possible threats, and said every community deserves to worship without fear.