Teen Held in Alleged Plot to Attack Illinois Hindu Temple
The Facts
- The Palatine Police Department announced on Wednesday that it has arrested Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old from Palatine, in connection with a planned mass shooting targeting persons of South Asian heritage, especially those of Indian descent.
- Palatine Police Chief William Nord told journalists at a press conference on Thursday that one of Paporakis' Taco Bell co-workers alerted law enforcement to his alleged intentions after Paporakis shared "concerning electronic communications" with the individual.
- Among the messages, prosecutors allege Paporakis sent an eight-page document titled "Why I fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)," which espoused extremist and White supremacist sentiments and violent references toward South Asian people.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
Anti-Hindu and anti-Indian hatred has grown into a lethal threat, and brushing this off as one disturbed kid is dangerous denial. Families should never have to gamble on luck to pray safely on a Sunday morning. Nothing short of zero tolerance and real accountability is required to stop white supremacist and racist violence in its tracks.
Narrative B
Law enforcement takes the threat of targeted violence against any part of the community with the utmost seriousness. Safeguarding these communities and their places of worship is a top priority. That is why the FBI, the Palatine Police Department and prosecutors will do everything to prevent attacks of this nature.
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