Poland Starlink Fire: Four Arrests Reported in Germany
Four people have reportedly been detained in Germany over a suspected arson attack on a Polish Starlink ground station. Warsaw suspects Russian intelligence involvement.
Four people have reportedly been detained in Germany in connection with a suspected sabotage attack on a Starlink satellite ground station in Poland, according to reports published on October 13, 2026. Polish authorities suspect that Russian intelligence services directed the September arson attack, which damaged communications infrastructure used to support internet connectivity in Poland and Ukraine.
German police arrested two Turkish nationals on October 12 in Nürtingen, Baden-Württemberg, following a request from Polish authorities. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the arrests, while German prosecutors said special police units carried out the operation near the town's railway station.
Polish broadcaster RMF FM subsequently reported two additional arrests in Germany, bringing the reported total to four. The additional suspects include a woman detained in Berlin who may have provided transportation and logistical support to the alleged perpetrators.
German authorities have confirmed the original two arrests, while the expanded detention count was reported by Polish media. Investigators are examining the additional suspects' roles and whether Poland should request their extradition.
Starlink Ground Station Targeted in September
The attack took place on September 23 at a Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska, approximately 50 kilometers south of Warsaw, in Poland's Masovian region.
The fire damaged the facility's power supply equipment and backup generator. Polish prosecutors concluded that the blaze resulted from deliberate arson and opened an investigation into suspected sabotage, activity on behalf of a foreign intelligence service and terrorism-related offenses.
The facility is associated with Exatel, a Polish state-owned telecommunications company. It forms part of the ground infrastructure used to route satellite internet traffic, including connectivity serving Ukraine.
Starlink, operated by the American company SpaceX, provides satellite communications widely used by Ukrainian military forces. Polish authorities believe the attack was intended to interfere with internet connectivity in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries.
However, the extent of any actual disruption to Starlink services has not been publicly established.
Poland Suspects Russian Intelligence Involvement
Polish intelligence coordinator Tomasz Siemoniak has attributed the suspected sabotage operation to Russian intelligence services. Warsaw believes the perpetrators may have been recruited to carry out the attack on behalf of a foreign state.
Polish investigators have reportedly reconstructed the suspects' movements before and after the fire using surveillance recordings, fingerprints, DNA evidence and travel information.
The investigation involves Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW), the Central Bureau of Police Investigation (CBŚP) and German law enforcement authorities.
The case adds to concerns among European security agencies about attacks against infrastructure supporting Ukraine. Telecommunications networks, logistics facilities and defense-related supply chains have become recurring areas of concern in investigations into suspected Russian hybrid operations.
No court has established Russian responsibility for the Starlink incident, and the suspects remain under investigation. The next stage will depend on extradition proceedings, formal charges and the evidence presented by Polish prosecutors.
