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SecurityQuiet 14d · day 14

Hindu temple shooting plot thwarted near Chicago; suspect arrested

A 19-year-old's rifle jammed at an Aurora temple on Oct. 11; he was arrested hours later after a co-worker reported his plan to kill Indian people.

newest coverage 13d agosummary written 13d ago4 pieces NewswiresYouTubeMastodon

What to know

  • On October 11, a 19-year-old white supremacist's rifle jammed as he sat in the parking lot of a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois during Navaratri celebrations; a Taco Bell co-worker reported his stated plan to "kill Indian people," leading to same-day arrest.
  • The suspect faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a firearm; South Asian leaders are pressing the FBI to investigate as a hate crime.
  • Anti-South Asian slurs online surged 109% from 2023 to 2025; the community is shaken but determined to celebrate holidays safely and advocate for ways to address hatred.

“A lot of us are just really appalled and just kind of disgusted. This is supposed to be a very peaceful time for our community, for all of us to come together and get time with our loved ones, our family, our friends, and be able to celebrate in a safe way.”

Asha Rao, Executive director, The Chicago Kasam · Philadelphia Inquirer / Associated Press ↗ · Oct 28

Alexandros Paporakis Suspect, 19Asha Rao Executive director of The Chicago KasamU.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi Democrat, district includes targeted templeSri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple Target of alleged attack

Hindu temple shooting plot thwarted near Chicago; suspect arrested
Philadelphia Inquirer

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesvideosposts

Peak 4 pieces in 4h at Oct 29, 2 AM; 4 pieces over 14 days (1 article · 1 video · 2 posts) Oct 29, 2 AM — 4 pieces · 1 article · 1 video · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1, YouTube 1Oct 29, 6 AM — quietOct 29, 10 AM — quietOct 29, 2 PM — quietOct 29, 6 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 6 AM — quietOct 30, 10 AM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 6 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — quietOct 31, 6 AM — quietOct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietNov 7, 1 AM — quietNov 7, 5 AM — quietNov 7, 9 AM — quietNov 7, 1 PM — quietNov 7, 5 PM — quietNov 7, 9 PM — quietNov 8, 1 AM — quietNov 8, 5 AM — quietNov 8, 9 AM — quietNov 8, 1 PM — quietNov 8, 5 PM — quietNov 8, 9 PM — quietNov 9, 1 AM — quietNov 9, 5 AM — quietNov 9, 9 AM — quietNov 9, 1 PM — quietNov 9, 5 PM — quietNov 9, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 5 PM — quiet 1
Oct 30Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Nov 8Nov 9now · 9:14 PM ET
  1. background

    South Asian community expresses fear but resolve to celebrate holidays without fear — Temple members and community leaders describe the community as shaken but determined to preserve traditions and celebrate the season. Some said they are "more hesitant" to leave home, with people becoming "more vigilant" and watching for signs of disturbance. Community organizers are emphasizing resilience and recognizing positive developments in the South Asian community.

  2. 1

    Community leaders call for hate crime investigation; South Asian slur use up 109%

    South Asian local and congressional leaders are pressing law enforcement to investigate whether the attack was motivated by hate and pursue additional charges. Prosecutors have characterized Paporakis as a white supremacist and neo-Nazi who used hateful language toward Indians and other minorities. Use of anti-South Asian slurs online rose 109% from 2023 to 2025.

    “calling on the FBI to investigate and prosecute this particular matter as a hate crime…”
    — U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi
    • verdantsquare@mastodon.world

      From AP: Chicago Hindu community remains resilient after alleged mass shooting plot is thwarted https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=_ATui0GwUQ A&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon * VSN-GDPM c1996 # news # SupportIndependentMedia # vsn

      verdantsquare@mastodon.worldMastodon13d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  3. background

    Paporakis arrested near Palatine home after co-worker report — Later the same day, Paporakis was arrested near his home in Palatine, Illinois, about 40 miles from the temple. A Taco Bell co-worker had reported to authorities that he had said he wanted to "kill Indian people."

  4. background

    Paporakis arrives at Hindu temple with rifle during Navaratri; weapon jams — As worshippers gathered at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Illinois to celebrate Navaratri, Alexandros Paporakis, 19, sat in the parking lot with a rifle but fled before firing a shot because his weapon jammed. A co-worker at a Taco Bell had alerted authorities to his plan.