A suspected mass shooting targeting Indians at a Hindu place of worship near Chicago was allegedly prevented after the accused gunman’s rifle malfunctioned and his co-workers alerted police.

Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old resident of Palatine, Illinois, was arrested on October 11 and charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a short-barrelled rifle. A judge has ordered that he remain in custody before trial, with his next court appearance scheduled for October 30.

Investigators believe Paporakis may have intended to attack a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area, approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Palatine. The precise temple has not been officially confirmed, and authorities are continuing to determine whether he reached a specific location before abandoning the alleged attack.

Prosecutors say Paporakis told a co-worker that he wanted to kill Indians and planned to target what he described as the largest Hindu temple in Aurora. He allegedly travelled towards the area carrying an AR-style rifle, body armour and roughly 300 rounds of ammunition.

The weapon reportedly jammed when he attempted to fire it. Paporakis then left the area and later contacted a colleague, allegedly saying that he had fled without being seen. He is also accused of sending a video showing the malfunctioning rifle and discussing plans to repair it and make another attempt.

The co-worker and another employee reported the communications to authorities. Mount Prospect police passed the information to officers in Palatine, who arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his home later that day.

A subsequent search recovered an AR-style rifle without a serial number, multiple loaded magazines, additional ammunition, body armour and tactical equipment. Officers also found Nazi imagery and a gas container marked with an anti-South Asian slur, according to the prosecution’s account.

Investigators examined an eight-page document attributed to Paporakis titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)”. The document allegedly expressed white supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs while describing Indians, Jewish people and African Americans as intended targets of violence.

Co-workers told investigators that Paporakis had repeatedly made racist statements at work, openly described himself as a white supremacist and frequently discussed Nazism, weapons and mass violence.

Palatine Police Chief William Nord said the seriousness of the threat could not be overstated, particularly because it appeared to involve a place of worship. Police have said there is no continuing danger to the public but are working with other agencies to examine the suspect’s communications and determine whether anyone else knew about the alleged plan.

The Consulate General of India in Chicago praised the timely response by US authorities and said it was in contact with members of the Indian community. India’s Ministry of External Affairs later described the reports as deeply concerning and called for a thorough investigation and stronger protection for the Indian diaspora.

The case comes amid growing anxiety over hostility directed at Hindu institutions in the United States. In September, a public call to demolish the 90-foot Hanuman statue at a Texas temple triggered concern among Hindu Americans over whether constitutional protections were being applied equally to minority faiths.

The evidence described in court, suggests that the threat had moved well beyond online rhetoric. A weapon, ammunition, tactical equipment and a document outlining mass violence had allegedly been assembled before police intervened.