World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Bulgaria seeks two German suspects over Starlink antenna fires
A Bulgarian court approved European arrest warrants for two German men accused of setting fire to Starlink antennas near Sofia.
Prosecutors say the 19-year-olds entered Bulgaria from Serbia on October 9 and spent only a few hours there.
They are accused of attacking antennas at a facility south of Sofia; prosecutors say three were destroyed, two partly burned and three more damaged.
Bulgaria is investigating the fires as deliberate sabotage, though the suspects’ involvement has not been proven.
The case comes as other countries have blamed Russia-linked actors for similar incidents, allegations Moscow denies.
Ukraine uses Starlink for battlefield communications, including on some drones, giving the antennas wider significance.
The ruling can be appealed within three days, and the men could face three to 12 years in prison if convicted.
A Bulgarian court approved European arrest warrants for two 19-year-old German nationals suspected of setting fire to Starlink antennas near Sofia.
Prosecutors allege the pair entered Bulgaria from Serbia on October 9 and spent several hours in the country.
The fires affected antennas at a site south of Sofia, with three destroyed, two partially burned and three more damaged, according to prosecutors.
The suspects have not been convicted, and the court ruling can be appealed within three days.
Bulgarian intelligence chief Plamen Tonchev said investigators were treating the incident as deliberate sabotage.
- Who
- Two 19-year-old German nationals are suspected. Their names were not stated.
- What
- A Bulgarian court approved European arrest warrants over the alleged setting of fires at Starlink antennas.
- When
- The alleged fires occurred on October 9. The court approved the warrants on October 19.
- Where
- At the Plana Teleport facility south of Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege the pair deliberately set fire to the antennas. Their motive was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Prosecutors allege the two suspects entered Bulgaria from Serbia and set fire to Starlink antennas south of Sofia.
A Bulgarian court approved European arrest warrants for the two German nationals.
- Suspects
- Two German nationals, both 19
- Alleged incident
- October 9
- Location
- Plana Teleport facility south of Sofia
- Antennas affected
- Of 18, three were destroyed, two partially burned and three damaged
- Possible sentence
- Three to 12 years in prison if convicted
3 sources
What people are saying
The evidence gathered makes it possible to conclude that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the involvement of the two defendants
other such acts could not be ruled out in future
hybrid warfare