Several members of Congress have condemned an alleged mass shooting plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, on Sunday, Oct. 11. The lawmakers warned that anti-Indian prejudice and white supremacist ideology threaten minority communities and their places of worship.
Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested after authorities alleged that he had planned the attack but failed to carry it out when his rifle jammed. Prosecutors said Paporakis had expressed white supremacist views and made threats against Indian people. He worked as a cashier at Taco Bell in the Chicago suburb of Palatine.
Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, condemned the incident. In a video shared on X, Khanna said he was angered by the alleged attempted mass shooting at Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple by a white supremacist. Referring to his Hindu faith, Khanna said Hinduism teaches nonviolence.
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“This kind of hate crime has no place in our society, and he must be prosecuted to the full extent of law,” Khanna said.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said he and his family were worshipping at the Aurora temple when the alleged attack took place. In a statement, Krishnamoorthi expressed gratitude to those who helped prevent a potential tragedy. He urged Americans to unite against hatred and called for anti-Indian violence to be taken seriously before lives are lost.
Paporakis was arrested after a co-worker reported disturbing communications in which he allegedly expressed a desire to kill Indian people. Prosecutors said he had shared an eight-page document titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto),” which contained white supremacist and neo-Nazi views and described plans for mass violence. Investigators recovered a rifle without a serial number, loaded magazines, a gas canister bearing a slur targeting South Asians and items displaying Nazi symbols from his home.
According to prosecutors, Paporakis told a co-worker that his gun had jammed and that he left the area without being seen.
Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon. Investigators believe he may have intended to target a Hindu temple in Aurora, later identified as the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple.
Rep. Brad Sherman also condemned the incident. In a post on X, he wrote: “I am outraged by the anti-Indian and anti-Hindu hate that is rising across the country and impacting so many, including my friend and colleague @CongressmanRaja. This attempt to slaughter families while they pray is the epitome of evil. We must combat anti-Indian and anti-Hindu prejudice wherever it occurs and continue strengthening the security of minority houses of worship.”
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The case comes amid growing concern about anti-South Asian hostility and threats against minority communities in the United States. A report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate found that the monthly volume of hateful posts targeting South Asians on X increased 240% between January 2024 and June 2026.
The alleged plot also follows reports of vandalism and other threats targeting Hindu temples in the United States, alongside concerns about hate crimes against Sikh Americans. In September, a 28-year-old Punjabi Sikh truck driver was reportedly stabbed 17 times at a rest area in Wyoming while traveling to Pennsylvania. He had stopped at the Bitter Creek Rest Area.