A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Illinois over an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, raising fresh concerns about anti-Hindu hostility and the safety of Indian-origin communities in the United States.
Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 after police received information about disturbing electronic communications he had allegedly sent to colleagues. Investigators believe he may have planned an attack that day, although authorities have not confirmed the specific intended location.
According to prosecutors, the accused allegedly shared an eight-page document titled Why I Fought: A.K.A.: Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto, containing white supremacist views and references to violence against Indian, Jewish and African American people. Police said a search of his home uncovered a rifle, ammunition, loaded magazines and tactical equipment. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord said: “The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated,” adding that protecting places of worship remained a law enforcement priority.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the reported anti-Hindu and racist nature of the alleged plot as “particularly disturbing” and called on US authorities to investigate thoroughly and take preventive measures.
The case comes amid a series of reported incidents involving Hindu temples across the country, including vandalism, hate messages and threats. Community organizations have called for stronger protection of religious institutions and prompt investigations into suspected hate crimes.
Timeline of reported incidents involving Hindu temples in the US
May 29, 2020: A Hindu temple in Rio Grande, Texas, reports vandalism, according to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).
August 3, 2022: A statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens, New York, is knocked down.
August 16, 2022: The Gandhi statue at the same temple is smashed again, and a nearby road is defaced, CoHNA reports.
December 23, 2023: The SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, is vandalised.
January 5, 2024: Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, California, is vandalised with graffiti.
August 26, 2024: A Hindu temple in Sugar Land, Texas, hires security after a church group stages a protest over a Hanuman statue, CoHNA reports.
September 17, 2024: The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, is vandalised.
September 25, 2024: The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in the Sacramento area of California is vandalised.
December 20, 2024: A man threatens the Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple complex in Minnesota and posts a recording of the incident online, CoHNA reports.
March 8, 2025: A Hindu temple in Southern California is vandalised with anti-India messages.
August 10, 2025: A Hindu temple sign in Greenwood, Indiana, is vandalised with what CoHNA describes as a message of hate.
January 10, 2026: A guardian statue at the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple in Cary, North Carolina, is vandalised.
October 8, 2026: The Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham temple in Ohio is vandalised, according to CoHNA.
October 11, 2026: Palatine police arrest Alexandros Paporakis, 19, in Illinois over an alleged mass-shooting plot that may have targeted a Hindu place of worship in Aurora. Police say the intended location remains unconfirmed.