US Teen Arrested Over Hindu Temple Shooting Plot
A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Illinois, United States, for allegedly plotting a mass shooting targeting people of Indian origin at a Hindu temple near Chicago. Authorities identified the suspect as Alexandros Paporakis, a Taco Bell employee from Palatine, whose colleagues alerted police after receiving disturbing messages expressing white supremacist views and threats against Indians.
Alexandros Paporakis Accused of Plotting Hindu Temple Attack
Prosecutors alleged that Paporakis openly identified himself as a white supremacist and expressed his intention to kill Indian people.
He reportedly shared an eight-page manifesto titled Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto), containing racist statements targeting Indians, Jewish people and African Americans.
Investigators believe he was considering an attack on a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Palatine.
The precise intended target remains under investigation.
Taco Bell Co-Workers Alert Police to Shooting Threat
According to prosecutors, Paporakis contacted a colleague on October 11 and claimed that his rifle had malfunctioned, forcing him to leave the area.
A co-worker alerted authorities after receiving messages and photographs showing weapons and tactical equipment.
Police arrested Paporakis near his residence that afternoon.
A subsequent search uncovered an AR-style rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of ammunition rounds, body armour and items displaying Nazi-associated symbols.
Suspect Faces Terrorism Threat and Weapons Charges
Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons.
A judge ordered him detained pending further proceedings, with his next court appearance scheduled for October 30.
The FBI is assisting local investigators in examining the alleged plot and the suspect’s extremist communications.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the alleged plot, highlighting its anti-Hindu and racist nature and calling for a thorough investigation.
