19-year-old charged over alleged mass-shooting plot at Illinois Hindu temple; India voices concern

A 19-year-old man from Palatine, Illinois, has been charged after police said he may have planned a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship near Aurora, a city west of Chicago. Prosecutors allege he went to a temple and tried to open fire, but his rifle jammed. These are allegations; the man has not been convicted of any offense.

What authorities allege

Palatine police said detectives believe the man may have been planning an attack on October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area, according to a PTI report on ThePrint. That report says the specific location is unconfirmed. Scroll.in, citing court records reported by NBC Chicago, says he allegedly drove to a temple in Aurora and tried to fire, but the rifle jammed. It adds that he allegedly went home, searched online for how to clear the jam, and called a co-worker about the plan. The co-worker alerted police, who arrested him before he could allegedly return, Scroll.in reports.

An IANS report on Telangana Today gives the attempt as a Saturday and the tip as coming from a co-worker at a fast-food restaurant; ThePrint and Scroll.in give Sunday, October 11, for the arrest and the alleged attempt. Prosecutors say he had been planning the attack for two years, according to IANS.

Evidence and charges

Police said a search of his home found a rifle, several loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a tactical vest with body armor and a patch with imagery associated with white supremacist extremism (ThePrint). Police also said he shared a document that outlined a mass shooting plan and referred to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly Indian descent (ThePrint, Scroll.in).

He is charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. A judge ordered him held at a hearing on Wednesday in Rolling Meadows, and his next court date is October 30, according to ThePrint. Palatine Police Chief William Nord said, "The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated." Police said they are working with the FBI and have identified no known ongoing threat to the public, ThePrint reports. The Aurora Police Department warned Hindu places of worship in its jurisdiction.

Reactions

U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi said he was horrified that a white supremacist allegedly tried to attack Indian Americans at a Hindu temple and thanked the people and officers involved, according to Scroll.in. The Sentinel, citing IANS, reports that he said he and his family were at the temple when the alleged attack occurred.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said it was deeply concerned and called for greater vigilance and zero tolerance for hate-motivated violence, Scroll.in reports. The Indian consulate in Chicago praised the timely action of U.S. authorities and said it was monitoring the situation. The Sentinel reports that India's ambassador to the United States condemned anti-Hindu hatred. IANS reports that the Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies and the Coalition of Hindus of North America urged temples to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity.