Chicago, Oct 15: Police have arrested a 19-year-old man who plotted a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora—located in the Greater Chicago area of Illinois, USA—with the intent to kill people of Indian origin. The arrested individual has been identified as Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine.
As the accused prepared to launch an attack on the Hindu place of worship in Aurora, he was apprehended during a swift joint operation conducted by the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments, along with the FBI, following an urgent tip-off from a co-worker. He was presented before a Cook County court on Wednesday; the court ordered him to be held without bail and scheduled the next hearing for October 30.
Tip-off from a Co-worker: Paporakis, who worked as a cashier at a Taco Bell fast-food outlet in Palatine, had sent a co-worker photographs of a rifle, loaded magazines, and documents detailing his secret plan for a mass killing. Additionally, he had remarked that Sunday would be a “special day” for him. According to the Hindu American Foundation and investigators, the individual arrived at the temple premises armed on the morning of Sunday, October 11. Fortunately, his firearm jammed. Startled by this, he fled the scene without being detected. He later called a colleague, telling them that his gun had jammed and that he had managed to escape.
Upon being alerted by the colleague, the police surrounded and arrested Paporakis on the evening of October 11 as he was leaving his home. A search of the accused’s residence revealed a dangerous short-barreled rifle (with a barrel length of less than 16 inches), hundreds of rounds of live ammunition, a tactical jacket, and patches bearing symbols associated with Neo-Nazi ideology.
Charges have been filed against him for the illegal possession of lethal weapons and making terroristic threats. Meanwhile, the FBI is continuing its investigation to determine whether additional federal charges related to “hate crimes” should be brought against him.
Anxiety during Hindu festivals: This incident occurred just as the celebrations for Navaratri and Diwali were beginning, causing deep concern within the Indian community in the United States. Attack on an Ohio Temple: Just two weeks ago, the Shri Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Temple in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was vandalized and defaced by miscreants.
Police Protection for Temples: Following this incident, additional police security and patrols have been deployed at all Hindu temples and Indian community centers in Chicago, Aurora, and surrounding cities. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has urged the local community to remain vigilant and to immediately call the helpline if any suspicious activity is observed.