Washington, Oct 16:
A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Illinois for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship, with investigators recovering a document containing white supremacist and extremist statements, authorities said.
Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 and charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon. Investigators believe he may have intended to carry out the attack at a Hindu temple in Aurora.
According to police, the suspect allegedly drove to the temple armed with a modified rifle and ammunition but was unable to fire the weapon after it malfunctioned. He subsequently returned home and reportedly searched online for information on how to fix the firearm.
The investigation gained momentum after an individual alerted authorities to threatening electronic communications. A colleague also reportedly informed police about the suspect’s alleged intentions.
Investigators recovered a document attributed to Paporakis that contained extremist views, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly Indians. Police are examining electronic communications and other evidence to establish the full extent of the alleged plot.
The Indian Consulate General in Chicago said it was closely monitoring the developments and was in touch with members of the Indian diaspora. The suspect was ordered detained pending further proceedings, with his next court appearance scheduled for October 30.
Authorities are continuing the investigation with assistance from the FBI and have not confirmed the specific temple allegedly targeted.