US teen arrested over alleged mass shooting plot targeting Hindu temple (representative image)

Police in Palatine, Illinois, arrested a 19-year-old man following an investigation into threats of a potential mass shooting at a Hindu temple.The investigation began on October 11, when the Palatine Police Department received information from the Mount Prospect Police Department about concerning electronic communications allegedly sent by Alexandros Paporakis.Investigators said Paporakis had shared a document outlining an alleged plan for a mass shooting at the Hindu temple. He also shared images of a rifle, magazines, body armour and other tactical gear and accessories.FBI investigators examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled “Why I Fought: A K A: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto).” The document contained white supremacist and extremist views, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.Detectives believe Paporakis may have been planning an attack on October 11, possibly targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. Police subsequently contacted Hindu places of worship within their jurisdiction to alert them to the threat.Paporakis was charged with one count of making a terrorist threat, a Class X felony, and one count of unlawful possession of weapons. He appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday, where a judge ordered him to remain in custody.“The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated. Through the immediate sharing of information and coordinated response by the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments, officers were able to identify and take the suspect into custody. We are grateful for the FBI’s assistance in the subsequent investigation and commend the individual who initially came forward with this information. Protecting our communities and places of worship remains a priority, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners as this investigation moves forward,” Palatine Police Chief William Nord said, as cited by ANI.

Paporakis was arrested as he was leaving his residence. During a subsequent search of his home, Palatine Police detectives recovered a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of additional ammunition, tactical gear and other items believed to be relevant to the investigation.The recovered items included a tactical vest with body armour and a patch bearing imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.