Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A 19-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly plotting a mass shooting that could have targeted a Hindu place of worship in Illinois, US. Authorities said they recovered weapons, ammunition and a manifesto expressing white supremacist views and referring to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine was arrested on October 11 and has been charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. A judge ordered him to remain in detention during a hearing on Wednesday, and his next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.
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The arrest came during celebrations of Hindu festivals, including Navaratri, and two weeks after the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was vandalised.
The Palatine Police Department said it was contacted by the Mount Prospect Police Department on October 11 after a person reported receiving concerning electronic communications from Paporakis. Investigators said he had shared a document outlining an alleged plan for a mass shooting, along with images of a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment and accessories.
“Based on information developed during the investigation, detectives believe Paporakis may have been planning to carry out an attack on Sunday, October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. However, the specific intended location has not been confirmed and remains under investigation,” police said on Wednesday.
Detectives examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter’s manifesto)”. Police said it contained “statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence directed toward individuals of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent”.
Officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments coordinated their response and arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his home on the evening of October 11. Detectives later searched his residence and recovered a rifle, several loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition, tactical equipment and other items considered relevant to the investigation.
The recovered items included a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism. Paporakis was charged with one count each of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. The weapons charge relates to a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches long.
The Aurora Police Department was informed about the potential threat by the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments. Aurora Police then contacted Hindu places of worship under its jurisdiction and informed them about the alleged plot.
The Hindu American Foundation said on X: “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.”
Palatine Police said it was working closely with the FBI as the investigation continued, including a review of possible additional charges. Authorities said they had not identified any known continuing threat to the public linked to the case.
“The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated. Through the immediate sharing of information and coordinated response by the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments, officers were able to identify and take the suspect into custody,” Palatine Police Chief William Nord said.
“Protecting our communities and places of worship remains a priority, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners as this investigation moves forward,” Nord said.
FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen said the agency works closely with local and state law enforcement authorities to identify, investigate and stop threats of violence driven by radical ideologies.
Paporakis remains in detention as investigators examine the alleged plot, the recovered weapons and his communications. Police said the intended place of worship had not been confirmed and that no known continuing threat to the public had been identified.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
