Two Turkish citizens arrested over Poland Starlink station fire

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 00:08 · Archive

Polish authorities report the arrest of two Turkish citizens in Germany in connection with a fire at a Starlink station in Poland last month.

Polish authorities announced on Monday that two Turkish citizens have been detained in Germany in connection with a fire at a Starlink station in Masovia, eastern Poland, last month. The fire engulfed the station's power system and backup generator. Polish officials say the attack was aimed at disrupting internet services, including those used by Ukraine's military for battlefield communications.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as an act of 'hybrid warfare'. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the two men would face charges in Poland of carrying out sabotage on the instructions of a foreign intelligence agency. Polish Special Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak stated: 'We have no doubt that Russian services are behind this act of sabotage.' He also noted that 'Russian services are increasingly turning to individuals linked to the criminal underworld' for such attacks.

Polish officials did not specify where or when in Germany the two men were arrested. The case follows a pattern of incidents across the European Union that officials attribute to Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare campaigns. Russia has previously dismissed similar accusations as baseless and anti-Russian hysteria. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

How it is being reported

• Poland says two Turks arrested over Russia-linked Starlink station fireWarsaw says the 2 suspects held in Germany will face sabotage charges.Al Jazeera · 12 Oct, 23:44
• Poland reports arrests of 2 Turkish citizens in Germany in connection with Starlink station fire last monthPolish authorities have reported the arrests of two Turkish citizens in Germany in connection with alleged sabotage of a Starlink station last month. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the fire an act of "hybrid warfare."DW News · 12 Oct, 19:05

In this story: Poland · Germany · Russia · Ukraine · Donald Tusk · Marcin Kierwinski · Tomasz Siemoniak · Starlink

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