Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested over a plot to target the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Illinois, US
ILLINOIS: A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the United States over a plot to attack the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, with investigators uncovering a manifesto expressing white supremacist ideology and references to violence against people of Indian descent.
Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine and a cashier at Taco Bell, was taken into custody on October 11 after police investigated information about a planned mass shooting that potentially targeted the Hindu temple.
The arrest comes during the Hindu festival of Navaratri and approximately two weeks after the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was vandalised, bringing renewed attention to the security of Hindu religious institutions in the United States.
Paporakis appeared before the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows on October 14, where a judge ordered him detained. His next hearing is scheduled for October 30.
Police began investigating Paporakis after another individual reported that he was planning a mass shooting. Investigators said the suspect had shared a document outlining the shooting plan, together with images of a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment and accessories.
Based on information collected during the investigation, detectives believe Paporakis was planning an attack on October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu temple in the Aurora area. Police said the precise intended location remains under investigation.
Investigators also learnt that Paporakis had reportedly told his Taco Bell co-workers that October 11 would be “a special day”. Earlier that day, he called a colleague, saying his gun had jammed and that he had left “super fast” without being seen.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord said the seriousness of the threat could not be overstated, emphasising that protecting places of worship was a law enforcement priority.
Palatine Police detectives examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter’s manifesto).” According to investigators, the document contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
Following an immediate, coordinated response by the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments, officers located Paporakis as he was leaving his residence on the evening of October 11 and took him into custody.
During a subsequent search of his residence, detectives recovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of rifle ammunition, tactical equipment and other items considered relevant to the investigation. They also found a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.
Paporakis has been charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of weapons involving a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
The Palatine Police Department is working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as the investigation continues. Detectives are reviewing evidence and examining whether additional charges may be brought. Authorities have stated that they have not identified any known ongoing threat to the public connected with the incident.
The Aurora Police Department was also notified of the potential threat. The Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments coordinated outreach to Hindu temples within their jurisdictions to alert them to the reported plot and ensure that appropriate precautions could be taken.
The Hindu American Foundation welcomed the police response, stating on X, “We commend law enforcement for swift action.”
The organisation also urged members of the community to remain vigilant and report potential threats, emphasising that “Every community deserves to worship without fear.”
In a separate post, the foundation claimed that Paporakis, who was heavily armed, had already reached the Hindu temple and attempted to begin shooting, but his gun jammed. The foundation further described him as a man who identified himself as a “sociopathic white supremacist Neo-Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day.”
The Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple management confirmed that it was aware of the incident and had been in direct communication with the Aurora Police Department.
In a statement, the temple authorities said the safety of devotees, employees and volunteers was their highest priority. They announced additional security measures with immediate effect, including an increased armed security presence at the temple from 9 am to 9 pm, alongside further steps to maintain a safe environment.
Although investigators have not confirmed the exact intended target, they believe Paporakis may have planned to attack the largest Hindu temple in southwest suburban Aurora. The Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple is the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. The investigation remains active as authorities continue reviewing the evidence.
