Chicago, IL, October 16, 2026: Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has revealed that he and his family were worshipping at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, on Sunday, October 11, when a 19-year-old man allegedly attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans.
The Illinois Democrat’s disclosure adds a deeply personal dimension to a case that has shaken the Indian American community and raised concerns about the threat of white supremacist violence at places of worship.
“My family and I were worshipping at our Hindu temple in Aurora on Sunday when a white supremacist attempted a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans,” Krishnamoorthi wrote on X. “I’m grateful to those who helped prevent a tragedy, but we must come together to confront the hatred that put so many innocent lives at risk.”
In a statement shared on social media, the congressman said he was horrified by the alleged attack at the temple where his family worships.
“The threat of such violence shows how dangerous anti-Indian hatred and white supremacy have become, and we cannot wait until innocent people are killed to take these threats seriously,” he said.
Krishnamoorthi thanked the suspect’s coworkers for alerting authorities and praised the law enforcement officers who intervened.
“Every American deserves to live and worship without fear, and we must stand together against hatred in all its forms,” he added.
The alleged plot came to light after police arrested Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, on Sunday. He has been charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon.
According to prosecutors, Paporakis had expressed white supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs and discussed plans to kill Indian Americans at a Hindu temple in Aurora.
Investigators say he drove to the temple on October 11 carrying an AR-style rifle and wearing tactical equipment. Prosecutors allege that he attempted to fire the weapon but that it malfunctioned, prompting him to leave the area.
At a news conference Thursday, Palatine Police Chief William Nord confirmed that a red Acura RDX registered to Paporakis entered the parking lot of a Hindu temple in Aurora at approximately 12:25 p.m. Sunday and departed at 12:38 p.m.
However, investigators have not independently confirmed the suspect’s account that he attempted to fire his rifle and that it jammed.
The temple has been identified in subsequent reporting as the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, approximately 40 miles west of downtown Chicago.
According to court documents, Paporakis subsequently contacted a coworker and described how his gun had failed to fire. He allegedly shared images of his rifle and tactical vest, along with an eight-page manifesto containing racist and extremist statements.
Prosecutors said the manifesto, titled Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto), expressed hatred toward Indians, Jewish people, African Americans and other nonwhite communities.
Investigators also allege that Paporakis told coworkers he intended to return and carry out the attack.
Alarmed by his statements and communications, two coworkers contacted police, triggering an investigation that led to his arrest later that day near his Palatine residence.
A search of his home uncovered an AR-style rifle without a serial number, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor, tactical equipment and items bearing Nazi-related imagery, authorities said.
The congressman told The Associated Press on Thursday that he had visited the temple without knowing an alleged attacker was nearby.
“I visited not knowing that there was an attacker lying in wait with a sinister motive to commit a mass shooting,” Krishnamoorthi said.
He called on the FBI to investigate the incident as a hate crime and urged the Trump administration to release federal security grants to help protect religious institutions.
Krishnamoorthi also said he had increased his own security in response to the incident.
“People are really shaken up,” he told the AP.
The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple has announced additional security measures following the incident, including an increased armed security presence.
Temple officials said they were coordinating with law enforcement and emphasized that the safety of devotees, employees and volunteers remained their highest priority.
The alleged attack occurred during a period of religious celebrations, when Hindu temples traditionally draw large numbers of worshippers.
The incident has also prompted concern among civil rights organizations about growing hostility toward Indian Americans and other South Asian communities.
Stop AAPI Hate, a national organization tracking anti-Asian discrimination, said the alleged plot reflected a broader climate of escalating hostility.
According to a September report cited by Axios, nearly half of South Asian adults surveyed nationwide said they had experienced a race-based hate incident in 2025. The report also found that anti-South Asian slurs online more than doubled between 2023 and 2025.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the alleged plot, citing its anti-Hindu and racist nature and calling for a thorough investigation and preventive action.
The FBI is assisting local authorities with the investigation.
Paporakis appeared in court Wednesday, October 14, when a Cook County judge ordered him detained pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.
