Authorities in the United States have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with an alleged mass shooting plot they believe targeted a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area of Illinois, not far from Chicago.
Following his investigation of charges from reports that the man, Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine, was about to commit a mass shooting, he was escorted into custody on the evening of Oct. 11. Police says they seized a document that contained white supremacist and extremist messages, including threats to people of Hindu descent, in particular to people of Indian descent.
Paporakis came to the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows Wednesday. He was ordered to be detained by a judge, and his final hearing is Oct. 30.
How the Investigation Began
The police investigation was initiated after one person claimed Paporakis was preparing for a mass shooting. He had forwarded a document explaining the purported plan, as well as photos of equipment designed for the purpose, such as a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour and more, investigators said.
The Palatine Police Department said the message board and document it is referring to, “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter’s manifesto),” revealed comments of extremism and violent speech towards Indian people.
Investigators are suspected that the perpetrator might have been preparing something for Sunday, Oct. 11, which could be at a Hindu religious institution in the Aurora area. The precise point the victim planned to use the water bottle has not yet been established, police added.
Investigators also said they had overheard Paporakis confide to co-workers at the Taco Bell restaurant where he worked that the day Sunday would be “a special day.” He also allegedly was saying on a phone call to a fellow worker that his gun had jammed, police added.
Police Response
Palatine and Mount Prospect police were on the scene and found Paporakis as he was departing his home at 10 a.m., on Oct. 11.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord said the threat was “by all means very serious” and added that he was “blown away” by the “terrorism” threat over the safety of places of worship recently put up by the department.
The arrest takes place during the Hindu festival of Navaratri and about two weeks after the Hindu Vidyalaya Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal, in Richmond Heights, Ohio was attacked.
The investigation continues and the claims made against Paporakis are still unestablished facts in court.