US Police Arrest Teen Over Alleged Hindu Temple Shooting Plot

Police in Illinois have arrested a 19-year-old man accused of planning a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship in the Chicago suburb of Aurora. The suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine, faces felony charges related to making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapons possession.

Authorities say the alleged plan was uncovered before a potential attack could cause mass casualties.

According to investigators, the case came to light after a co-worker reported receiving disturbing electronic messages from the suspect. The communications reportedly included a document outlining a plan for mass violence and images of tactical equipment. Police said the material contained white supremacist views and threats directed at Indian people and other communities.

Prosecutors allege that Paporakis travelled to a temple location on October 11 with a rifle, ammunition and tactical gear. Reports indicate that the firearm malfunctioned, preventing him from carrying out the alleged attack, after which he left the area. Investigators are continuing to establish the precise circumstances and identify the intended target.

A search of the suspect’s home reportedly uncovered a rifle, ammunition and items bearing Nazi symbols. Authorities are examining the alleged manifesto and other evidence to determine the full extent of the preparations and the suspect’s motives. Officials have not established that any wider group was involved in the alleged plan.

The arrest has raised concerns about the safety of Hindu places of worship and the wider Indian-American community in the United States. Police have stressed the seriousness of the alleged threats, while the investigation continues. The case remains a criminal allegation, and the suspect has not been convicted.

Authorities are also investigating a separate incident reported on October 2 at the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio, where bricks allegedly shattered temple windows while priests and worshippers were inside. No connection between the Ohio vandalism and the Illinois shooting plot has been established. The two incidents remain separate cases.