Tip-off foiled US teen's alleged plot to attack Hindu temple near Chicago, police say
Alexandros Paporakis, 19, is charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon after a colleague alerted police to the alleged plan.
At a glance
- Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, is charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon.
- Officials say a colleague alerted authorities after Paporakis sent a message about the planned attack on Sunday.
- Police found a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition, body armour and an eight-page document at his home.
A 19-year-old Taco Bell cashier from Palatine, Illinois, appeared in court on Wednesday after police say a tip-off from a colleague foiled an alleged mass shooting plot at a Hindu temple near Chicago.
Alexandros Paporakis appeared in court on Wednesday charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, according to investigators.
Tip-off and alleged attempt
Palatine police chief William Nord said on Thursday that officers were notified on Sunday by someone who had received "concerning electronic communications" from Paporakis. Nord said these communications "played a vital role" in bringing the matter to law enforcement's attention. According to CBS, the BBC's US partner, prosecutors said the person who tipped off authorities had worked with Paporakis.
Nord said a red Honda RDX registered to Paporakis entered the car park of a "known Hindu temple" in the suburb of Aurora at Sunday lunchtime. The suspect allegedly attempted to open fire, but the weapon jammed, and he then drove to the home he shared with his mother.
NBC Chicago reported that Paporakis messaged the colleague saying his gun had jammed and that he left "super-fast". Once home, he "searched internet trying to learn how to unjam his gun & called a colleague informing them of [his] intent to carry out a mass shooting", according to NBC Chicago.
Search and reactions
Police searched Paporakis' home and found a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition and body armour, Nord said. They also discovered an eight-page document containing "extremist ideologies" and plans for an attack. In the writings, he described himself as a "sociopathic white supremacist neo-Nazi", according to CBS. Police said writings found at his home showed Paporakis identified as a white supremacist and expressed hatred for non-white people.
Police have questioned Paporakis' mother, who was said to be unco-operative. The temple identified by local media as the intended target said it had implemented new security measures.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said the incident "adds to growing concerns over racist hostility and anti-India hate in the US". US congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois said he was "horrified" by the incident. In a Facebook statement, he said he and his family worship at the temple and were there last Sunday. The Chicago area is home to one of the largest Indian-American communities in the US.
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- Who is Alexandros Paporakis and what is he charged with?
- Alexandros Paporakis is a 19-year-old from Palatine, Illinois. He appeared in court on Wednesday charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
- How was the alleged plot foiled?
- Officials say a colleague alerted authorities after Paporakis sent a message about the planned attack on Sunday. The colleague had received "concerning electronic communications" from Paporakis.
- What did police find at Paporakis's home?
- Officers found a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition, body armour and an eight-page document containing extremist ideologies and attack plans.
