US Hindu temple shooting plot foiled after rifle jams, police say

A 19-year-old man named Alexandros Paporakis has been charged in the United States for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. Police say his rifle malfunctioned, preventing him from carrying out the attack. The Consulate General of India in Chicago expressed gratitude for the prompt actions taken by US law enforcement authorities following Paporakis' arrest.

Co-workers alerted the police after receiving concerning electronic communications from Paporakis, who also shared a photograph of himself wearing a tactical vest and an eight-page document detailing his extremist views. Following a search of Paporakis' home, authorities discovered a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, tactical equipment, and additional items related to the investigation.

A document titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)” was also found, containing white supremacist and extremist views, with references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent. Paporakis was charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons.

He appeared in court, where a judge ordered his detention. Palatine police coordinated with Hindu places of worship in the area to inform them about the situation. The investigation also involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Paporakis remains accused of the charges, and the allegations await trial.