Arrests Made in Arson Attack on Poland's Starlink Facility, Russia Suspected

Suspects accused of setting fire to Poland's Starlink communication network facilities have been arrested, dpa and other foreign media reported on the 13th local time.

According to Polish and German authorities, two Turkish nationals suspected of setting fire to a communication facility in Wólka Dobrofiejska, Poland, were arrested the previous day at the train station in Nürtingen, southwestern Germany.

Polish broadcaster RMF FM reported that two other suspects were also captured, and that a woman among them arrested in Berlin is believed to have driven and handled logistics.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that the suspects will be extradited and prosecuted on charges of carrying out sabotage under the instructions of a foreign intelligence agency.

Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's coordinator for special services who oversees security agencies, claimed that "there is no doubt that Russia is behind this act of sabotage," adding that Russia is increasingly employing individuals linked to organized crime.

Police stated that they have secured evidence, including video footage, fingerprints, and DNA traces, to prove the suspects' crimes.

On September 23, a fire broke out at a base station in Wólka Dobrofiejska, located about 40 kilometers south of Warsaw, damaging electrical distribution facilities and a generator.

Operated by Polish state-owned telecommunications company Exatel, the base station also utilizes SpaceX's Starlink communication network.

The Polish government has been supporting communications by purchasing Starlink terminals and covering operating costs for Ukraine, which faces disruptions in internet access due to the war.

Prosecutors claimed that the purpose of the arson attack was to disrupt Starlink internet access in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries.

European nations have repeatedly pointed the finger at Russia whenever politically motivated incidents, such as arson or infrastructure attacks, occur.

However, Russia has denied all allegations, calling them "hysteria" and "Russophobic propaganda."

In the early hours of the 10th, a warehouse for Ukrainian relief supplies located on the grounds of a school in Frankfurt, Germany, was completely destroyed by a fire.

This warehouse is a temporary storage facility for various relief supplies to be sent to Ukraine, including medicine, firefighting equipment, bedding, and food.

Reviewing evidence from the scene, police stated that the fire appeared to be intentionally set and called for public tips.

Yumas Medov of the relief organization "Frankfurt for Ukraine" said, "We received heavily critical comments on social media, so I had a bad feeling for a long time," suspecting that forces opposed to supporting Ukraine caused the harm.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.