Police in Palatine, Illinois, said a 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of plotting a mass shooting, possibly targeting a Hindu place of worship. The suspect was identified as Alexandros Paporakis, 19, a Palatine resident.
According to Palatine police, Paporakis was taken into custody on Sunday after a person reported receiving suspicious electronic communications from him. It was not immediately clear whether the suspect has legal representation.
Searching Paporakis's home, detectives seized a rifle, multiple loaded magazines and hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition. Among the items recovered was a tactical vest bearing insignia associated with white-supremacist extremism, according to a police statement.
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said a coworker of Paporakis told police that the suspect openly identified as a white supremacist at work and said he "could not wait" to kill people of Indian descent.
Detectives also recovered a document titled "Why I fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)," containing white-supremacist and extremist ideology and references to violence against South Asians, specifically Indians.
Authorities believe Paporakis was planning an attack on Sunday, possibly targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Palatine. However, police said the specific location has not been confirmed and remains under investigation, with the FBI assisting.
Paporakis faces felony charges of "terrorism threats" and unlawful possession of weapons. The suspect attended a detention hearing on Wednesday, and his next court appearance is expected in late October.
Human rights activists say hostility toward South Asians in the United States has risen in recent years, driven by escalating anti-immigration policies and the rise of white-supremacist ideology.
