Rifle Jams in Planned Attack on Illinois Hindu Temple Teen Arrested

CHICAGO: A planned mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, failed when the attacker's rifle jammed, authorities said. A tip from a co-worker led to his arrest.

Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested outside his home in Palatine on Sunday. He is charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. A judge in Rolling Meadows ordered him held in custody until his next court date on October 30.

Prosecutors said Paporakis told the co-worker, who works with him at a fast food restaurant, that he went to the temple on Saturday and pulled the trigger, but the rifle did not fire. He said he fled "superfast." The co-worker alerted Mount Prospect police, who passed the tip to Palatine authorities.

Police found a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and body armour with white supremacist designs at his home. Palatine Police Chief William Nord said the manifesto discussed extremist ideologies and mass killings.

Prosecutors said the eight page document, titled "Why I Fought," was filled with hatred of Indians and Hindus. They said Paporakis called himself a "sociopathic white supremacist Neo Nazi" and had planned the attack for two years. He also wrote against Jewish and non white people, including African Americans.

Prosecutors said he may have mental health issues. Police said he lives with his mother.