Illinois authorities arrest man for planned attack on Hindu temple

A 19-year-old man, Alexandros Paporakis, has been arrested in Illinois following allegations that he planned a mass shooting at a large Hindu temple in Aurora. Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons.

According to investigators and prosecutors from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Paporakis’s coworkers reported receiving concerning digital communications, including a document outlining a mass shooting plan and photos of tactical gear. Coworkers also stated that Paporakis identified as a white supremacist and made statements regarding targeting Indian people.

The arrest was a coordinated effort between the Mount Prospect and Palatine police departments. Detectives believe the suspect may have intended to carry out the attack on a Sunday, after he allegedly told a coworker that the day would be ‘a special day’ and claimed his gun had jammed.