Police in Germany have detained two Turkish citizens on suspicion of being linked to a fire at a Starlink communications station in Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident, which occurred in September, as part of a "hybrid war." In a statement on his X account on October 12, Tusk stated that the suspects would be tried in Poland.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski also confirmed the detentions. Kierwinski stated that the operation was carried out through the joint efforts of the Polish police, the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW), and German security units.
According to Kierwinski, the suspects will face charges of "sabotage and espionage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service."
INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTACK
The incident came to light following a fire on September 24 at a Starlink satellite station located in the Masovian region of central Poland. It was reported that the fire affected the facility's electrical system and backup generator.
Polish authorities characterized the fire as a deliberate act of sabotage. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski announced that the fire was set with the intention of disabling the station, causing disruptions to internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian military.
In his assessment to the Polish state television channel TVP Info, Gawkowski said that the investigation is ongoing, but that numerous indicators point to the attack being consistent with "Russia's new offensive doctrine." The Kremlin has not commented on the matter.
In a threat assessment published during the same period, the Danish intelligence service warned that Russia could increase its hybrid warfare activities in the coming months. The assessment noted that while the probability of a direct attack remains very low, the risk of limited military attacks against NATO countries is low but increasing.
The concept of hybrid warfare refers to the use of non-military methods, such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns, to pressure or destabilize a country. It is noted that proxy elements are often employed in such activities.
News Source: 12punto
