Palatine man Alexandros Paporakis, 19, charged with terrorism offenses in alleged shooting plot targeting Aurora Hindu temple

PALATINE, Ill. (WLS) — Palatine police released more details Thursday about a man accused of planning a mass shooting.

A 19-year-old suspect faces terrorism charges after authorities uncovered a planned attack targeting the Balaji Temple in Aurora.

Balaji Temple officials confirmed Thursday that their location was targeted on Sunday, the first day of an important Hindu festival.

Members of the Chicago area’s South Asian community are calling for greater recognition and action against hate after the arrest of a Palatine man accused of planning a mass shooting at Hindu temple.

ABC7 Chicago is now broadcast 24/7. Click here to watch

Police said a co-worker at a Taco Bell alerted Mount Prospect police after 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine told him about a threat he was planning against the large Hindu temple on Oct. 11.

Authorities said investigators determined Paporakis entered the parking lot of the temple he was targeting on that date before returning to Palatine.

“He entered the parking lot at approximately 12:25 p.m. and exited at 12:38 p.m….the offender’s vehicle was subsequently captured and was returning to Palatine shortly before 2 p.m. along Rand Road near the offenders’ residence,” said Palatine Police Chief Bill Nord.

Investigators then arrested Paporakis at his Palatine home and said they recovered an AR-style rifle without a serial number, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a tactical vest, a gasoline can and items depicting Nazi symbolism.

Police said they also found an eight-page manifesto detailing an attack Paporakis allegedly planned over the past two years. Authorities said the document revealed contempt for South Asians and other ethnic groups.

Law enforcement officials said they continue to review evidence from the electronic devices, but do not believe there are any other threats at this time.

“He was alone in this plan. He revealed some details in the manifesto that he had been planning this for some time. We are still trying to determine why the date October 11 was important to him,” Nord said.

The case led to an increased presence of police and security forces at suburban places of worship.

At Balaji Temple, worshipers said they were determined not to let the incident overshadow a season of spiritual and community celebration.

“There is an increased desire to come together as a community, and the best way to combat such hatred would be to serve the community even better,” said Balaji Ganesh, who prays at the temple and is the Chicago regional director of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu volunteer organization.

Anurathi Madasi echoed this message.

“We have to stay strong and we have to celebrate our culture even though there are people in this world who don’t think we should do it,” said Madasi, whose family prays at the Balaji temple.

At a news conference at Chicago’s Loop, religious leaders, civil rights advocates and political leaders called for action beyond public statements. Among their demands was the restoration of federal funding for programs aimed at reducing hate crimes.

“We should not have to wait until our temples become sites of massacres for this country to take anti-Hindu hatred, anti-Indian racism and white supremacist violence seriously,” said Rishab Chatty of Hindus for Human Rights.

Speakers at the press conference cited a 2025 survey by Stop AAPI Hate that found nearly half of South Asian adults in the United States have experienced a hateful act based on their race, including violence, harassment and discrimination. According to the survey, 53% of respondents reported negative effects on their mental or physical health.

Litcy Kurisinkal, a board member of the Native American Democratic Organization, said hate crimes are often not fully recognized for their seriousness.

“When hate crimes are characterized as vandalism, property crimes or petty crimes, we are ignoring the intensity of hate crimes that occur in our country,” Kurisinkal said.

Aurora Mayor John Laesch said the city’s police department increased patrols of places of worship following the alleged threat. He also said community groups are helping address concerns.

“And I reached out to the community observers. The Illinois Sikh community is one of them and is very active in the city of Aurora to make sure that there is a community response, not just a police response,” Laesch said.

Participants at the news conference said incidents targeting the Asian community often go unreported and called for policy changes to better address the problem.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said he and his family were at the Aurora Temple on Sunday, which he said marked the start of an important holiday called Shavad Navratri and was drawing larger crowds than usual.

“My family was there. My parents were there all day and we had no idea that someone with such sinister intentions was sitting in the parking lot, lying in wait,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi said he urges elected officials, including members of the Trump administration, to reduce speech that he says can contribute to violence.

“This horrific hateful rhetoric combined with the proliferation of high-powered firearms and the Trump administration fanning the flames of this rhetoric means people are going to act on it,” he said.

Krishnamoorthi told ABC7 Chicago he will push for hate crime charges to be added to the case.

The FBI is also involved and is reviewing evidence to determine whether federal charges should be filed.

Balaji Temple shared the following statement on Thursday:
“As you may have seen or heard in the news, a security threat has recently targeted Hindu temples in Aurora. We want to assure you that Balaji Temple is fully aware of the situation and has been in direct communication with the Aurora Police Department. Please know that the safety of our worshipers, employees and volunteers is our highest priority, and we have implemented additional security measures effective immediately, including an increased armed security presence at the temple from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and are taking additional steps to ensure a continued safe environment for everyone at the temple.”

Aurora Alderwoman Shweta Baid shared the following statement Wednesday evening:
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the attempted shooting of worshipers at the Aurora Hindu Temple. No one should ever feel unsafe while practicing their faith or gathering in a place of worship or elsewhere. Such threats are unacceptable and have no place in our community. I commend law enforcement for their efforts to protect our residents and places of worship. I stand in solidarity with all members of the community and reaffirm our shared commitment to freedom faith, public safety and mutual respect. The strength of the City of Aurora lies in its diversity, compassion and unity. We must unite against hatred and intolerance and ensure that every resident feels safe, respected and welcome, regardless of their faith or background.

U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois issued the following statement Wednesday evening:
“I am horrified that a white supremacist allegedly attempted to massacre Native Americans at a Hindu temple in Aurora. This is where the poison of anti-Indian hatred and white supremacy can lead, and we cannot wait until innocent people are killed to take this seriously. I am grateful to the colleagues who raised the alarm and the law enforcement officers who intervened. Every American deserves to live and pray without fear, and we must unite against hatred in all its forms.”