New York, Oct 15 A teenager was arrested for allegedly plotting a “mass shooting” at a Hindu place of worship in the US state of Illinois, with investigators recovering a manifesto expressing white supremacist ideology and references to violence against people of Indian descent.
Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine village, was arrested on October 11 and charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon.
According to investigators, the youth had tried to open fire, “potentially targeting” the place of worship in the Aurora city in Illinois, but his gun jammed, forcing him to drive back home, a move that prevented a mass murder.
The specific intended location has not been disclosed by the authorities.
Paporakis has been charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of weapons – possession of a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches in length.
He made his initial appearance in court Wednesday and the judge ordered him to be detained.
India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday termed the attempted mass shooting as “deeply disturbing” and said racist violence has no place in a civilised society.
US Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will investigate the incident. Concerning. @CivilRights will review/investigate,” Dhillon posted on X.
Palatine Police Department Chief William Nord said at a press conference Thursday that the investigation has confirmed that Paporakis had been alone in planning the attack.
He “did reveal some details in the manifesto that he’s been planning this for some time. We are still trying to determine why the October 11th date was significant for him. We’re still working on that,” Nord said.
“Based on the information that was given to us, and based on the communications, what our investigation revealed was specifically that he was looking for a large Hindu temple. That was it,” police said.
Palatine Police detectives examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto),” which contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence directed toward individuals of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.”
Police said the investigation into the incident included execution of a search warrant at Paporakis’s residence, which resulted in the recovery of a rifle, loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition, body armour, and other tactical equipment.
Investigators identified Paporakis’s car entering the parking lot of the Hindu temple in the Aurora community. Paporakis entered the parking lot at approximately 12:25 p.m. on October 11 and exited at around 12:38 p.m.
His vehicle was captured returning to Palatine shortly before 2 p.m. near his residence. “At that time, it appeared that the offender was driving the vehicle and he was alone in the vehicle,” authorities said.
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Thursday said he and his family were present in the temple when the teenager attempted the failed shooting.
“I am horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at the Hindu temple in Aurora where my family worships. My family and I were there when the attack was attempted last Sunday,” Krishnamoorthi, the outgoing Democrat Congressman from Illinois, said in a statement.
According to a report by NBC Chicago, Paporakis had worked as a cashier at fast-food restaurant Taco Bell and had plotted to carry out a “mass shooting of Indian people” at a Hindu temple in Aurora.
He drove to the temple last Sunday “decked out for war.” The day he chose to carry out the carnage at the sprawling place of worship was filled with people. He was “one malfunctioning rifle away from becoming a mass shooter”.
Paporakis showed up “to kill a significant number of Indians,” the report said, quoting police.
Investigators said he had a “modified AR-style rifle and 300 rounds of ammo, enough to fill ten magazines for reloading, along with body armour, gasoline cans” and an assortment of Hakenkreuz (hooked cross used by Nazis), the report said.
Paporakis allegedly drove from his mother’s home in Palatine to the Aurora temple. Authorities said that “he tried to open fire but the gun jammed, so he drove home”.
There, he “searched the internet trying to learn how to unjam his gun and called a colleague, informing them of (his) intent to carry out a mass shooting”.
The co-worker then notified the police, informing them of the plot, and Paporakis was arrested Sunday before he could return to the temple.
The youth was arrested as he was leaving his residence following a coordinated response by the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments.
The Consulate General of India in Chicago said it appreciated the timely action by law enforcement authorities and was in touch with members of the Indian diaspora while closely monitoring developments.
The arrest comes amid celebrations of Hindu festivals, including Navaratri and Durga Puja, and just two weeks after the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was vandalised.
According to investigators, Paporakis “expressed pleasure calling himself a sociopathic white supremacist Neo-Nazi filled with hatred, fantasising about mass murder nearly every day”.
In a social media post, the Hindu American Foundation commended law enforcement for swift action.
“We also urge the community to stay vigilant and report any potential threat. Every community deserves to worship without fear,” it said.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America said the “disturbing plot” comes as Hindus gather in large numbers to celebrate Navratri, and just two weeks after an attack on a temple in Ohio.
“Hindu temples and all houses of worship must be sanctuaries of peace, prayer, and solace — NEVER targets of hate, violence, or terror. We thank law enforcement for their swift action in averting what could have been an unspeakable tragedy.
“We urge elected officials and law enforcement agencies to take the growing threats against Hindu places of worship seriously, strengthen protections, and unequivocally condemn Hinduphobia,” it said in a social media post.
The group called on temples and community organisations to review their security measures, remain vigilant, and promptly report suspicious activity.
“The freedom to worship without fear is a fundamental American right. It must be protected,” it said.
Police said they were working with the FBI as the investigation continued, including a review of possible additional charges. Authorities have not identified any known ongoing threat to the public associated with the incident.
“The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated… Protecting our communities and places of worship remains a priority,” Palatine Police Chief William Nord said.
FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen said the agency aggressively works alongside its local and state law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle any threats of violence driven by radical ideologies.
(PTI News)
