Chicago, October 15 (TNA) Police in suburban Chicago have foiled an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area of Illinois and arrested a 19-year-old man, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 by officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments. He faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
The suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 by officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments. He faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
Investigators believe Paporakis may have been planning an attack on a Hindu temple in Aurora, which is home to one of the largest Hindu places of worship in the area. Police said the exact intended location remains under investigation.
The alleged plot came to light after a co-worker alerted police about disturbing communications and threats. Investigators also recovered an eight-page manifesto that allegedly expressed white supremacist views and contained racist references to people of Indian descent.
According to prosecutors, the suspect may have intended to kill as many people as possible. Authorities are also examining reports that his rifle jammed, potentially preventing the planned attack from going ahead.
Police located and arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his residence in Palatine. A judge ordered him to remain in custody while the case proceeds, and his next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.
Authorities said there was no known ongoing threat to the public linked to the case. The investigation remains active, and the charges against Paporakis have not been proven in court. The incident has raised fresh concerns among Hindu and Indian-American communities in the Chicago area, although officials have not disclosed the name of any specific temple that may have been targeted.