New York: A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the US state of Illinois for allegedly plotting a mass shooting that investigators believe may have targeted a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. Police recovered a document containing white supremacist ideologies and references to violence against people of Indian descent.

The suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine, was taken into custody on October 11 after police received information about electronic communications suggesting preparations for a possible mass shooting.

Investigators believe the attack may have been planned for October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu religious institution in Aurora, although authorities have not confirmed the intended location.

"Based on information developed during the investigation, detectives believe Paporakis may have been planning to carry out an attack on Sunday, October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. However, the specific intended location has not been confirmed and remains under investigation," the Palatine Police Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

The investigation began when Mount Prospect Police contacted the Palatine Police Department on October 11 after receiving information from an individual who had reportedly obtained disturbing electronic messages from Paporakis.

According to investigators, the suspect had shared a document outlining an alleged mass shooting plan, along with photographs of a rifle, ammunition magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment.

Detectives subsequently examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora shooter's manifesto)."

Police said the document contained "statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence directed toward individuals of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent."

The contents of the document raised concerns that the alleged plot could have been motivated by racial and religious hatred.

Following the alert, officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments launched a coordinated operation and arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his residence on the evening of October 11.

A subsequent search of his home led to the recovery of a rifle, several loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment.

Investigators also seized a tactical vest fitted with body armour and bearing a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.

Police in Aurora were informed of the suspected threat, following which officers contacted Hindu places of worship in their jurisdiction to alert them about the possible attack.

The arrest comes amid Hindu religious celebrations, including Navaratri, and follows the vandalism of the Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham Hindu Mandir in Richmond Heights, Ohio, approximately two weeks earlier.

Paporakis has been charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of weapons. The weapons charge relates to possession of a rifle with a barrel measuring less than 16 inches.

He appeared before a judge at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday. The court ordered that he remain in detention.

His next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.

Reacting to the arrest, the Hindu American Foundation praised law enforcement agencies for their prompt intervention and urged Hindu communities to remain alert.

"We commend law enforcement for swift action. We also urge the community to stay vigilant and report any potential threat. Every community deserves to worship without fear," the organisation said in a post on X.

Palatine Police Chief William Nord described the alleged plot as a serious threat and credited coordination between law enforcement agencies for preventing a potentially dangerous incident.

"The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated. Through the immediate sharing of information and coordinated response by the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments, officers were able to identify and take the suspect into custody," Nord said.

"Protecting our communities and places of worship remains a priority, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners as this investigation moves forward," he added.

The Palatine Police Department said it is continuing to work closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with investigators examining whether additional charges may be warranted.

FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen said the federal agency works closely with local and state law enforcement authorities to identify and disrupt threats of violence linked to radical ideologies.

Police said the investigation remains active but stressed that no known continuing threat to the public has been identified in connection with the case.