‘Couldn’t wait to kill Indians’: Illinois teen told Taco Bell co-workers

A 19-year-old Taco Bell cashier in Illinois allegedly told colleagues he "couldn't wait to kill Indian" people and shared an eight-page document describing plans for a mass shooting, prosecutors said. Alexandros Paporakis also showed coworkers photographs of tactical gear and called Sunday "A special day."

Shared mass shooting manifesto

The document was titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)". A court document obtained by The Associated Press says it called Indian, Jewish and African American people "subhumans" and outlined a plan to kill as many of them as possible. Prosecutors said Paporakis identified as a white supremacist at work.

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Police suspect he was planning to attack a Hindu temple in Aurora, about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Palatine, reported NDTV. The exact target is unconfirmed. Officials believe he may have meant to hit the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, the largest Hindu temple in the city.

Coworker reports alleged plot to police

The probe began after another person reported Paporakis. Investigators said he had shared the document with that person, along with images of a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment.

Police in Mount Prospect and Palatine coordinated their response after a colleague reported the alleged plans. Officers arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his home on Sunday (October 11) afternoon.

Police recover rifle, ammunition

Police searched his home and found a rifle and loaded rifle magazines, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition. "Among the recovered items was a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism," Palatine police said.

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After consulting the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, police charged him with felony counts of "making a terrorist threat" and unlawful weapon possession. A judge ordered him detained at a hearing on Wednesday, police said. His next court appearance is October 30.

MEA expresses concern

Reacting to the development , MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "We are deeply concerned by reports of an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting targeting a Hindu temple in the Aurora area of Illinois. The reported anti-Hindu and racist nature of the alleged plot, including references to violence against people of Indian origin, is particularly disturbing."

Jaiswal also addressed the American response. "We have taken note of the action taken by US law enforcement authorities, including the arrest and detention of the suspect and the charges brought against him," he said.