Car registered to man accused of planning mass shooting was at Hindu temple he targeted, police say

Key Points:

• Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested near his home in Palatine, Illinois, after allegedly planning a mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in suburban Chicago, with police noting he entered the temple parking lot hours before his arrest.
• Paporakis faces felony charges including making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a rifle, and reportedly expressed white supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs in messages outlining a plot to kill non-white people.
• The Hindu temple has increased security measures following the threat, with local officials and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi calling for federal investigations and enhanced protections for religious institutions.
• Authorities found an AR-style rifle without a serial number, loaded magazines, ammunition, a gas canister with a slur against South Asians, and Nazi-related items at Paporakis' home.
• The incident highlights rising threats against South Asians in the U.S., with advocacy groups linking increased hate and violence to political rhetoric and urging greater awareness and prevention efforts.