A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the United States for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, after his rifle reportedly jammed during an attempted attack and a co-worker alerted the police, as reported in Indian Express.
Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 on charges of making a terrorist threat and illegally possessing a rifle. A judge ordered him to be held without bond during a hearing in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.
According to prosecutors and court records, Paporakis had allegedly expressed white supremacist views, made racist remarks targeting Indians and frequently discussed Nazis and armed violence with his co-workers while working as a cashier at a Taco Bell outlet in Arlington Heights for approximately seven months.
Investigators alleged that on Saturday, October 10, Paporakis told a co-worker that he wanted to kill Indians and intended to attack what he described as the largest Hindu temple in Aurora. He also reportedly discussed using a large quantity of ammunition for the planned attack.
According to prosecutors, Paporakis drove to the temple area the following day, allegedly carrying an AR-style rifle, approximately 300 rounds of ammunition, body armour and other tactical equipment. He reportedly attempted to fire the weapon, but the rifle jammed, forcing him to flee without carrying out the attack.
After returning home, Paporakis allegedly searched online for instructions on how to repair the rifle and contacted a co-worker about the failed attempt. He reportedly sent the co-worker a video showing the weapon failing to fire and a photograph of himself wearing a tactical vest. Messages recovered by investigators allegedly showed him discussing plans to fix the gun and attempt the attack again.
The co-worker and another employee subsequently contacted emergency services, alerting authorities to the alleged plot.
Police officers from Palatine and Mount Prospect arrested Paporakis at around 3:42 pm on Sunday in a parking lot near his apartment.
A subsequent search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of an AR-style rifle without a serial number, loaded magazines, ammunition, body armour, a gas can and items bearing Nazi symbols, according to investigators.
BREAKING: Mass Shooting Plot Targeting Sri Venkateswara Temple in Aurora, Illinois, Foiled
A 19-year-old suspected white supremacist, Alexandros Paporakis, has been arrested for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois.
Investigators say the suspect had been planning the attack for two years and allegedly targeted Indians and South Asians.
Police recovered an AR-style rifle, ammunition and tactical gear.
A potentially devastating hate-driven attack may have been prevented.
Paporakis worked as a cashier at a Taco Bell in Arlington Heights for nearly seven months.
According to a co-worker who spoke to investigators, Paporakis regularly made racist remarks, particularly targeting Indians. He openly identified himself as a white supremacist and frequently spoke about Nazis and armed struggle.
— Telugu360 (@Telugu360) October 14, 2026
Police Recover Alleged Shooter’s Manifesto
Investigators, with assistance from the FBI’s Chicago field office, also recovered an eight-page document titled Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto).
Prosecutors alleged that the document contained white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, described non-white communities, including Indians, in racist terms and outlined plans to kill as many people as possible.
The document reportedly also detailed how Paporakis had obtained and modified the rifle and researched the intended target using online tools.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord reportedly said investigators believed the accused had been planning an attack on a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. However, authorities had not conclusively established the specific temple he intended to target, and the investigation was continuing.
Following the arrest, Aurora police were informed about the alleged plot and contacted Hindu temples in the area. Authorities said they had not identified any continuing threat to the public.
The Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora has been widely identified in media reports as a possible target. The temple is a major religious and cultural centre for the Indian-American community in the Chicago area.
Accused Faces Terrorist Threat and Weapons Charges
Paporakis has been charged with making a terrorist threat, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches, a Class 3 felony. Police said investigators were examining whether additional charges were warranted.
His public defender has emphasised that the allegations made by prosecutors and police remain unproven. The investigation is ongoing, with assistance from the FBI.
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