US police arrest Illinois teen in alleged Hindu temple mass shooting plot

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkIn this file photo from April 25, 2026, Chicago police officers stand outside a nearby hospital awaiting updates on two fellow officers who were shot during a prisoner transport incident at Swedish Hospital in Chicago, United States [File: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images]By Al Jazeera Staff and ReutersPublished On 15 Oct 202615 Oct 2026A ‌teenager arrested in a Chicago suburb had shared a document expressing ⁠white supremacist ⁠views and outlined an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship, police in the US state of Illinois have said.Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, was arrested on Sunday after an individual reported receiving concerning electronic communications from him, Palatine police said on Wednesday. It was not ⁠immediately clear whether he had legal representation.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Nine killed in shooting in US state of Pennsylvania, including two childrenlist 2 of 3Anti-South Asian ‘hate speech’ on X surges by 240%, US report findslist 3 of 3Minneapolis shooting kills two, wounds three police officersend of listDetectives searched Paporakis’s home and recovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines and hundreds of additional rounds of rifle ammunition.“Among the recovered items was a tactical vest containing body armor and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism,” a police statement said.Paporakis’s coworker reportedly told police that he openly identified himself as a white supremacist at work and said he “couldn’t wait” to kill Indian people, according to prosecutors from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.Detectives recovered a document called “Why I fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)” which had sentiments expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, referencing violence towards South Asians, specifically Indians.Authorities believed Paporakis was planning to carry out his attack on Sunday, possibly targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, 40 miles (65km) southwest of Palatine.“However, the specific intended location has not been confirmed and remains under ⁠investigation,” the police said, adding the FBI was assisting in the probe.Police said Paporakis is facing felony charges of “making a terrorist threat” and possessing an unlawful weapon.The suspect appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday and his next court appearance is scheduled for the end of October.Human rights advocates said hate against South Asians has surged in the United States in recent years due to rising anti-immigration policies and a rise in white supremacist ideology.