Suspect self-identified as white supremacist in manifesto found on electronics

A 19-year-old Illinois man was charged Wednesday with making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession after police uncovered an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago.

Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine appeared in court on one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon for possessing a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches long, the BBC’s US partner CBS reported.

According to prosecutors, Paporakis told a coworker by phone that his gun jammed and sent messages showing an AR-style rifle. Other messages, prosecutors said, showed the gun failing to fire when he pulled the trigger, along with a photo of himself wearing a tactical vest. The coworker and a second colleague from a Taco Bell where Paporakis worked called police on Sunday to report the incident.

Palatine Police Chief William Nord said officers searching Paporakis’ home recovered a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition, and body armor. Officers and the FBI were also able to examine Paporakis’ electronics and electronic communications, where they said they found the manifesto.

“Reading through the manifesto, he did state some extremist ideologies and talked about violence, he talked about mass killings and how he wanted to carry out this mass shooting,” Nord said, according to CBS.

Prosecutors alleged that Paporakis had spoken about being a white supremacist at work and made disparaging comments about people of other races. On Saturday, they said, he told a coworker he was planning “it” at a Hindu temple in Aurora and that Sunday “was going to be a special day.” He called and messaged the coworker the next day.

Police said a specific intended location in the alleged threats has not been confirmed, and the investigation remains open.

Local Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said in a statement posted on Facebook that he was “horrified” by the incident.

“Every American deserves to live and worship without fear, and we must stand together against hatred in all its forms,” Krishnamoorthi said.