World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Two Turkish nationals arrested in Germany over fire at Polish Starlink station
Two Turkish nationals were arrested in Nürtingen, Germany, on Monday over a fire at a Starlink ground station near Warsaw, Poland.
Polish authorities suspect they took part in setting the fire and say the case may involve sabotage for a foreign intelligence service.
A separate operation in Berlin reportedly targeted a suspected helper who may have driven the men.
The fire on September 23 damaged the station’s power supply and backup generator, but no one was injured.
The facility was temporarily out of service and later returned to operation.
Starlink links are used by Ukraine’s military for communications and drone operations, and Poland says it pays for many Ukrainian subscriptions.
Polish officials suspect Russian intelligence was behind the attack, but no public evidence has been presented, and Russia rejects accusations of sabotage in Europe.
Investigations in Poland and Germany are continuing, and Poland says the suspects should face justice there.
German police arrested two Turkish nationals suspected of setting fire to a Starlink ground station in Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the arrests were made at the request of Polish security authorities.
The station in the Mazowieckie region was damaged by fire in late September but was not destroyed.
Polish officials say the facility helps route internet data to Ukraine, including for the Ukrainian army.
Poland suspects Russian involvement, but the sources say no public evidence has been presented; Russia generally denies such allegations.
- Who
- Two Turkish nationals were arrested. They are suspected of setting fire to the station.
- What
- German police arrested them in connection with a fire at a Polish Starlink ground station.
- When
- The arrests were announced on October 12; Bild reported they took place on Monday.
- Where
- The arrests were in Germany, and the station is in Poland’s Mazowieckie region.
- Why
- They are suspected of setting fire to the station. Polish officials suspect Russian involvement, but no public evidence was presented.
Polish officials
Russia
Attribution
Polish officials
Polish officials suspect Russian intelligence services were behind the sabotage.
Russia
Russia generally denies allegations of sabotage and destabilisation in Europe.
Evidence
Polish officials
Polish officials have accused Russian services, but the reports say no evidence has been made public.
Russia
Russia’s response to this specific case was not available at the time of reporting.
A fire damaged the Starlink ground station near Warsaw, according to Bild.
Polish Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said the fire had disrupted internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian army.
Tusk announced that German police had arrested two Turkish nationals at the request of Polish authorities.
- Arrests
- Two Turkish nationals
- Arrest location
- Nürtingen, Germany
- Station location
- Mazowieckie region, Poland
- Fire date
- Evening of September 23, according to Bild
- Facility owner
- Exatel, Poland’s state telecommunications company
- Injuries
- None reported
What people are saying
another act of hybrid war
no doubt
This sabotage was deliberately designed to put the station out of service.
internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian army, was disrupted
Posts on X
Na zlecenie polskich służb niemiecka policja zatrzymała dwóch obywateli tureckich podejrzanych o podpalenie stacji Starlink na Mazowszu. To kolejny akt wojny hybrydowej. Sprawcy sabotażu odpowiedzą przed polskim wymiarem sprawiedliwości.
Sources
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