German police arrest Turkish man suspected of organizing arson attack on Starlink station in Poland

German authorities have apprehended a third individual linked to a late September arson attack on a Starlink satellite communications station in Poland, according to reports from Die Zeit and subsequent investigations by police in Baden-Württemberg and Stuttgart prosecutors. Eight mobile phones and ammunition were confiscated during an extensive search.

Two other Turkish nationals were apprehended in Baden-Württemberg in October and are currently under extradition consideration. The third suspect allegedly ordered the other two to set fire to the Starlink station in Poland, leading to charges of organizing a terrorist attack. Polish authorities suspect Russian intelligence services orchestrated the assault on the Starlink facility, crucial for communication support—including for the Ukrainian military.

Der Spiegel cites sources indicating that the Turkish criminal group Daltons (Daltonlar) may have executed the act, potentially on orders from Moscow. Beratcan Gökdemir, the gang's suspected leader, was detained in Russia in 2024 but was later released by Russian authorities and placed under their protection; his current whereabouts remain uncertain.

Lithuania police have connected arson attacks on Starlink equipment in Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Poland to the same group, with the same two men implicated in all three incidents. Germany is currently holding two suspects in connection with the arson attack near Warsaw, with Poland attributing the incident to Russian intelligence.