World · North America · 3 hrs ago
Illinois man arrested over alleged plot to attack Hindu place of worship
Police arrested 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis in Illinois over an alleged plan for a mass shooting that could have targeted a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area.
The investigation began after someone reported receiving concerning electronic messages from him.
Police say a document described an alleged attack plan and expressed white supremacist views, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
A search of his home recovered a rifle, loaded magazines, ammunition and tactical equipment.
A judge ordered Paporakis held in custody after he was charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapons possession.
Police have not confirmed the intended location, and the investigation remains active with FBI assistance.
The case has prompted attention to security at Hindu places of worship, which police contacted about the reported threat.
A 19-year-old Palatine man was arrested in connection with an alleged plan for a mass shooting that could have targeted a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois.
Police identified the suspect as Alexandros Paporakis and said the specific intended location had not been confirmed.
Investigators said a document attributed to Paporakis expressed white supremacist and extremist views and referred to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
Police said they recovered a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment from his residence.
A judge ordered Paporakis detained after a hearing on October 14; he faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapons possession.
The Consulate General of India in Chicago welcomed the law enforcement response and said it was monitoring developments and in contact with members of the Indian diaspora.
- Who
- Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, was arrested. He is charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapons possession.
- What
- Police say he shared a document outlining an alleged mass-shooting plan that could have targeted a Hindu place of worship.
- When
- He was arrested on October 11, 2026. A judge ordered him detained on October 14.
- Where
- The alleged target was a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area of Illinois. The specific intended location has not been confirmed.
- Why
- Police said the document attributed to Paporakis expressed white supremacist and extremist views, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Palatine police received information from Mount Prospect police about a possible mass shooting after an individual reported concerning electronic communications from Paporakis.
Police located Paporakis as he was leaving his residence and took him into custody.
Detectives searched his residence and recovered a rifle, loaded magazines, ammunition and tactical equipment.
Paporakis appeared at a detention hearing, and a judge ordered him detained.
Police said Paporakis was scheduled to appear in court again.
- Suspect
- Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine
- Alleged target area
- Aurora, Illinois
- Arrest date
- October 11, 2026
- Charges
- Making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapons possession
- Court hearing
- Detained by a judge on October 14, 2026
- Next court date
- October 30
4 sources
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19-year-old arrested in Illinois for planning attack on Hindu place of worship
What people are saying
We commend law enforcement for swift action. We also urge the community to stay vigilant and report any potential threat. Every community deserves to worship without fear.
We appreciate the timely action by law enforcement authorities. We are in touch with members of the Indian diaspora and are closely monitoring developments,
The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated.
The FBI aggressively works alongside our local and state law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle any threats of violence driven by radical ideologies,