19-year-old man arrested in US over alleged plot to target Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the United States over an alleged mass shooting plot that could have targeted a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois, raising concerns over the safety of Hindu religious sites and Indian-origin communities in the country.

Identified as Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine and a Taco Bell cashier, was arrested after investigators recovered a document expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent. The arrest comes during the Hindu festive season, which began with Navaratri, and about two weeks after the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was vandalised.

The Consulate General of India in Chicago said that it was aware of reports concerning the alleged attempt to target a place of worship in Aurora, Illinois, and appreciated the timely action by law enforcement authorities. It added that it was in touch with members of the Indian diaspora and was closely monitoring developments.


Paporakis appeared at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday. A judge ordered him detained, and his next hearing is scheduled for October 30.

What police found during the investigation

Police launched the investigation after a person reported that Paporakis was allegedly planning a mass shooting. Investigators said he had shared a document outlining the alleged plan, along with images of a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment.

“Based on information developed during the investigation, detectives believe Paporakis may have been planning to carry out an attack on Sunday, October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area,” the Palatine Police Department said. It added that investigators were still determining the exact intended location.

Investigators also said Paporakis allegedly told his Taco Bell co-workers that Sunday would be “a special day”. According to the investigation, he called one co-worker earlier that day, saying his gun had jammed and that he had left “super fast” without being seen. Detectives even examined his electronic communications and a document titled Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter's manifesto). Police said it contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of Indian descent.

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Officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments coordinated their response and arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his residence on the evening of October 11. Following the arrest, the police searched the residence of the accused reportedly uncovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition, tactical equipment and a vest containing body armour. Police also found a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.

Charges and temple security measures

Paporakis has been charged with one count each of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons, involving a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches. The Palatine Police Department is working with the FBI, and investigators are reviewing whether they can file additional charges.

“The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated,” Palatine Police Chief William Nord said, adding that protecting places of worship was a law enforcement priority. Police said they had not identified any known ongoing threat to the public connected with the incident. The Palatine and Mount Prospect departments also contacted Hindu places of worship in their jurisdictions to alert them to the potential threat. The Aurora Police Department was notified as well.

In a separate post, the foundation claimed that Paporakis had reached a Hindu temple with weapons and attempted to start shooting, but his gun jammed. These details were presented by the foundation and were not independently established in the police account provided.

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The management of Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora said it was aware of the situation and had been in direct contact with the Aurora Police Department. “Please know that the safety of our devotees, employees and volunteers is our highest priority, and we have implemented additional security measures effective immediately, including an increased armed security presence at the Temple from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and we are taking additional steps to ensure an ongoing safe environment for everyone at the Temple,” the temple authorities said.

Investigators believe the alleged target may have been the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, described as the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, but the intended location has not been conclusively established.