Bulgaria issues EU arrest warrants for Germans over Starlink antenna arson
A Sofia court approved European arrest warrants for two 19-year-old German nationals accused of setting fire to Starlink antennas near the capital on 9 October.
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A court in Sofia approved European arrest warrants on Monday for two 19-year-old German nationals accused of setting fire to Starlink satellite antennas near the Bulgarian capital, the Kyiv Post reported, citing state news agency BTA.
The pair, identified by German media only by their initials under German privacy rules, are accused of setting fire to antennas at the Plana Teleport facility, owned by Bulgarian telecoms operator Vivacom, at around 10:25pm local time on 9 October. Prosecutors said three of 18 antennas were completely destroyed, two were partially damaged and three more were affected.
The suspects entered Bulgaria from Serbia through the Kalotina border crossing in a German-registered car on 9 October, telling border officers they were tourists, and left the same day, according to the Kyiv Post. They were charged in absentia on 14 October and face three to 12 years in prison if convicted; their court-appointed lawyers argued the car had been identified but not the men inside it, and said they would appeal.
Plamen Tonchev, head of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security, told lawmakers he believed the fire was sabotage and warned further attacks could not be ruled out, German news agency dpa reported. Opposition lawmaker Ivaylo Mirchev said the attack caused more damage than prosecutors stated, saying 11 of the 17 antennas at the site were set alight, and criticised the government for staying silent about the incident for three days after it happened on 9 October.
The case follows other suspected sabotage attacks on Starlink infrastructure in Europe. A fire damaged antennas and a generator at a Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska, south of Warsaw, on 23 September, and Lithuania's prime minister, Mindaugas Sinkevicius, said on 18 October that an attempt had been made to set fire to a Starlink equipment room in Vilnius.
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What we know
- Official · Sofia court A Sofia court approved European arrest warrants for two 19-year-old German nationals accused of burning Starlink antennas near the Bulgarian capital on 9 October, the Kyiv Post reported.
- Official · Bulgarian prosecutors Prosecutors said three of 18 antennas at the Plana Teleport facility were destroyed, two partially damaged and three more affected; the suspects face 3 to 12 years in prison if convicted.
- 2+ outlets · Kyiv Post, Gazeta.pl +1 The suspects entered and left Bulgaria the same day via the Kalotina border crossing with Serbia, in a German-registered car, and were charged in absentia on 14 October.
- Official · Bulgaria's State Agency for Nat'l Security Bulgaria's national security agency chief called the fire sabotage; the case follows a September fire at a Starlink site near Warsaw and an attempted arson at a Starlink facility in Vilnius on 18 October.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed Opposition lawmaker Ivaylo Mirchev's higher damage estimate (11 of 17 antennas) has not been confirmed by prosecutors, who cite a lower figure (3 of 18 antennas destroyed).
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Claims in this story
Claims tracker →- UnverifiedBulgaria's State Agency for National Security· 20 Oct 2026
Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security says the fire at the Starlink antenna site was an act of sabotage.
Why it matters for Europe
Starlink terminals have become important for Ukraine's defence against Russian drones and for restoring connectivity after attacks on infrastructure, making ground stations and equipment sites across Europe a target for sabotage. The string of incidents in Bulgaria, Poland and Lithuania within weeks of each other has prompted warnings from national security officials in more than one country that the attacks may be coordinated.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
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Questions and answers
- Who is accused of the Starlink antenna arson in Bulgaria?
- Two 19-year-old German nationals, for whom a Sofia court approved European arrest warrants on 19 October, the Kyiv Post reported.
- How much damage was done?
- Prosecutors said three of 18 antennas at the Plana Teleport site were completely destroyed, two partially damaged and three more affected; an opposition lawmaker gave a higher, unconfirmed figure.
- Is this linked to other incidents in Europe?
- Bulgarian officials have pointed to a September fire at a Starlink site near Warsaw and an attempted arson in Vilnius on 18 October as part of a wider pattern of attacks on Starlink infrastructure.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.