Two Turkish citizens were arrested in Germany for an alleged arson attack on a Starlink ground station in Poland, an act Polish officials have described as Russian-backed hybrid warfare.
Key facts
- •The arson attack targeted a Starlink ground station in Poland's Masovia province on September 23.
- •The facility is owned by the Polish state telecommunications operator Exatel and supports internet services in the region, including Ukraine.
- •The suspects face potential charges of 'sabotage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service,' which carries a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
- •Polish authorities stated the arrests were coordinated between the Polish Internal Security Agency and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office.
- •Polish security minister Tomasz Siemoniak alleged that Russian services are increasingly utilizing criminal underworld figures to execute sabotage operations.
German police have detained two Turkish nationals suspected of carrying out an arson attack on a satellite internet ground station in Poland. The arrests were made at the request of Polish security services, who allege the sabotage was conducted on behalf of Russian intelligence. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as an act of hybrid warfare and stated that the suspects will face prosecution within the Polish justice system.
Details of the Incident and Arrests
The fire occurred on September 23 at a ground station in the Masovia region of Poland, a facility owned by the state telecommunications operator Exatel. The site is used to support Starlink satellite internet services, which are critical for connectivity in the region, including for military operations in Ukraine. Following the blaze, Polish digital affairs minister Krzysztof Gakowski confirmed the fire was set deliberately, noting that the modus operandi appeared to be Russian. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed that the arrests were the result of cooperation between Polish police, the Internal Security Agency (ABW), and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). While officials confirmed the suspects are in custody, they did not specify the exact location or timing of the arrests within Germany.
Allegations of Russian Involvement
Polish security officials have publicly linked the sabotage to Russian state interests. Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister in charge of security services, stated that Poland believes the attack was carried out on behalf of Russian security services. He further alleged that Russian intelligence agencies are increasingly recruiting individuals from the criminal underworld to conduct such operations. These events occur amid broader warnings from European officials regarding an increase in Russian-led sabotage, cyberattacks, and hybrid warfare across the continent. Russia has consistently denied these claims, characterizing them as disinformation or anti-Russian sentiment.
Timeline
- September 23A fire was set deliberately at a Starlink ground station in the Masovia region of Poland.
- September 24Digital affairs minister Krzysztof Gakowski revealed the fire was an act of sabotage.
- Monday eveningPrime Minister Donald Tusk announced the detention of two Turkish suspects in Germany.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Notes from Poland, Deutsche Welle Politics.
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