Illinois man charged over alleged mass shooting plot targeting Hindu temple

The arrest in Palatine

Palatine police arrested Alexandros Paporakis, 19, on Sunday, 11 October, after an individual reported receiving alarming electronic messages from him. The arrest was made public on Wednesday, 14 October. Prosecutors say he told a co-worker at the Taco Bell where he worked that he openly identified as a white supremacist and said he could not wait to kill Indian people. On Saturday, 10 October, he allegedly told another worker that he was planning something at a Hindu temple in Aurora, a city about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Palatine, and that Sunday would be a special day. Police believe he may have intended to strike on 11 October, but the specific target has not been confirmed and remains under investigation.

1. Oct 10, 2026Prosecutors say he told a worker he was planning something at a Hindu temple in Aurora
2. Oct 11, 2026Palatine police arrest him as he leaves his home, after he had reported a jammed gun to a co-worker
3. Oct 14, 2026Police announce the felony charges, and a judge orders him held at a detention hearing
4. Oct 30, 2026Next scheduled court appearance

Seized items, the manifesto and the jammed rifle

Detectives who searched his home recovered a rifle without a serial number, several loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of extra ammunition, body armour and a tactical vest with a patch bearing white supremacist extremist imagery, police and prosecutors said. Officers also found a gas canister labelled with an anti-South Asian slur and several items showing Nazi symbolism. Investigators said a document called "Why I Fought" was recovered from his electronic devices. A court filing seen by the Associated Press describes an eight-page text in which the author sets out a plan to kill as many Indian, Jewish and African American people as possible. Media reports say the alleged attack failed only because the rifle jammed at the scene, and prosecutors said he phoned a co-worker that day to report that his gun had jammed.

Palatine police chief William Nord said that protecting places of worship is a law enforcement priority.

The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated.

Charges and court proceedings

Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon, the latter linked to a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches long. Police said the charges were filed after consultation with prosecutors from the Cook County state's attorney's office. At a detention hearing on Wednesday, 14 October, a judge ordered him held pending trial, and his next court appearance is set for 30 October. It was not immediately clear whether he had legal representation. The FBI is assisting in the investigation, and police say the case remains open.

Reactions from India and Washington

India's foreign ministry voiced deep unease about the case and called its anti-Hindu and racist character particularly disturbing. The ministry's statement said:

We expect US authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter, bring those responsible to justice, and take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents.

The statement came ahead of a planned trip to India by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at a time when efforts to conclude a bilateral trade agreement have stalled again. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the local Congressman, said he was horrified by the incident and posted a statement on Facebook.

Every American deserves to live and worship without fear, and we must stand together against hatred in all its forms.