US Police Arrest 19-Year-Old Over Alleged Plot to Attack Hindu Temple.

Police in Illinois, United States, have arrested a 19-year-old man accused of planning a mass shooting that could have targeted a Hindu temple in the Chicago suburbs.

The suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis, from Palatine, was arrested on Sunday after a coworker alerted authorities to disturbing electronic messages he had allegedly sent, according to the Palatine Police Department.

Investigators who searched his residence reportedly recovered a rifle, several loaded rifle magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Officers also found a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.

According to prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the suspect's coworker told police that Paporakis had openly described himself as a white supremacist at work and allegedly expressed eagerness to kill Indian people.

Authorities also recovered a document titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A.: Aurora Shooter's Manifesto." Investigators said the document contained white supremacist and extremist views, including references to violence against South Asians, particularly Indians.

Police believe the suspect may have been preparing to carry out the alleged attack on Sunday, potentially targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Palatine.

However, investigators said the specific location he allegedly intended to attack had not been confirmed and that the investigation remained ongoing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting local authorities with the case.

Paporakis faces felony charges related to making a terrorist threat and possessing an unlawful weapon. He appeared at a detention hearing on Wednesday, while his next court appearance is scheduled for later in October.

The arrest comes amid growing concerns among human rights advocates about hostility and hate speech directed at South Asian communities in the United States, particularly amid concerns over white supremacist ideology and anti-immigration sentiment.

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