Teen arrested over alleged Hindu temple mass shooting plot

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 16 Oct, 00:57 · Archive

A 19-year-old from Illinois has been arrested after allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple, with police saying a coworker's tip-off prevented the attack.

Alexandros Paporakis, 19, a Taco Bell cashier from Palatine, Illinois, has been arrested and charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon after police say he attempted a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora on Sunday.

A coworker alerted authorities after receiving concerning electronic communications from Paporakis. According to prosecutors, Paporakis allegedly told colleagues he "couldn't wait" to kill Indian people and said Sunday would be "a special day". Police say a red Honda RDX registered to Paporakis entered the car park of a known Hindu temple in Aurora at Sunday lunchtime. He allegedly tried to open fire, but the gun jammed.

Paporakis then drove home and called a colleague, saying his gun had jammed and he had left "super fast". He allegedly sent a video of the rifle failing to fire and expressed his intent to try again once it was repaired. Detectives who searched his home recovered a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a tactical vest with body armour and a patch displaying white supremacist imagery. They also found a document titled "Why I fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)" expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies.

Paporakis appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered held in jail before trial, with his next court appearance scheduled for the end of October. Palatine Police Chief William Nord said the coworker's tip-off played a vital role in preventing the alleged attack.

How it is being reported

• Tip-off foiled US teen suspect's plot to attack Hindu temple, police sayThe alleged plot only failed because the 19-year-old suspect's gun jammed outside the place of worship, say police.BBC World · 16 Oct, 00:27
• US teen held over Hindu temple attack plot: Is anti-Indian racism rising?Illinois teen who allegedly said he 'couldn’t wait' to kill Indians is arrested over a Hindu temple attack plot.Al Jazeera · 15 Oct, 15:38
• Police arrest US teen in alleged Illinois Hindu temple mass shooting plotCoworker alerted police after receiving disturbing messages from 19-year-old suspect.Al Jazeera · 15 Oct, 08:54

In this story: Alexandros Paporakis · Palatine · Aurora · Illinois · Hindu temple

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