India urges US to ensure safety of its citizens after alleged plot to target Hindu temple in Illinois

India on Friday called on the United States to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals after authorities foiled an alleged mass-shooting plot at a Hindu temple in Illinois. Investigators said the suspect, a teenager, expressed violent "anti-Indian and white supremacist" views.

The alleged plot was a "matter of deep concern for us", ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday. He urged US authorities to take necessary steps to protect the Indian community.

"We have seen reports about an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting targeting a Hindu temple in Illinois. This is a matter of deep concern for us," Jaiswal said.

He added that India had taken note of the action taken by US law enforcement agencies in the case and called on the American side to ensure the "safety and security of Indian nationals" in the country.

A 19-year-old was arrested in Palatine, a suburb of Chicago, for allegedly plotting to blow up a Hindu temple. Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine, was arrested on October 11 after his co-workers alerted the police about disturbing text messages.

Police allege that he had been planning to attack Indians at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, around 65 miles west of downtown Chicago. According to investigators, Paporakis had been planning the attack for an extended period and had allegedly focused on the temple for around two months. Prosecutors said he attempted to carry out the attack on October 11, but his rifle malfunctioned when he tried to shoot a man from a car.

The alleged attack was prevented from escalating after Paporakis' co-workers alerted the police about disturbing messages and threats he had made. According to prosecutors, he had told colleagues that he "couldn't wait to kill Indian people" and referred to Sunday as the "special day".

Investigators recovered a document attributed to Paporakis titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)". According to police, the document contained white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian origin.

In the manifesto, Paporakis reportedly described himself as "a sociopathic white supremacist Neo Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day", according to court records cited by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The document reportedly outlined his alleged plan for mass violence and expressed hostility towards minority communities, including Indian, Jewish and African-American people.

A search of his residence led to the recovery of a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a tactical vest containing body armour. Police also recovered a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.

Authorities have said that, based on their investigation so far, Paporakis appeared to have been acting alone. The investigation remains ongoing

The teenager has been charged with making a terrorist threat, a Class X felony, and illegal possession of weapons. He was ordered to remain in custody following a court hearing and is due to appear in court again on October 30.

On Thursday, the MEA called the alleged plot a "racist, anti-Hindu attack" and asked American authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring those responsible to justice.

"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 said in response to media queries.

"We expect US authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter, bring those responsible to justice, and take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents."

The incident, he said, added to "growing concerns over racist hostility and anti-India hate in the US". "There is a need for greater vigilance, zero tolerance for hate-motivated violence, and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of the Indian community," Jaiswal added.