Germany arrests two over Starlink sabotage attempt in Vilnius
Lithuanian authorities said two German nationals, suspected of an attempted Starlink arson in Vilnius this month, were arrested in Germany at Bulgaria's request.
Two men living in Germany face accusations in Lithuania of trying to set fire to Starlink equipment in Vilnius this month, using flammable liquids and petrol bombs. German police detained both at Bulgaria's request, Lithuanian law enforcement officials said on Thursday. The attempt caused no significant damage.
Deputy Lithuanian criminal police chief Saulius Briginas told reporters the pair, both in their 20s, hold dual citizenship: one German and Turkish, the other German and Serbian. Investigators say the two flew into Lithuania just a day before the attack and flew out again straight afterwards, with no previous connection to the country.
Vilnius prosecutor Nerijus Puskorius said the men are suspected of setting up and belonging to a terrorist group, travelling abroad for terrorist purposes, and carrying out an act capable of serious harm, with a maximum sentence under Lithuanian law of 15 years.
Briginas linked the pair to earlier arson attempts on Starlink hardware in Poland and Bulgaria, where separate suspects are already in custody; Lithuanian police are working with counterparts in both countries and Germany. The target was a facility run by Lithuanian firm Delska that houses Starlink ground equipment for US company SpaceX; Lithuanian politicians have pointed to Russia as the likely instigator.
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What we know
- Official · Lithuanian police (Saulius Briginas) Two dual-national men in their 20s, resident in Germany, were detained there over a suspected attempt to burn Starlink equipment in Vilnius this month using flammable liquids and petrol bombs.
- Official · Lithuanian police (Saulius Briginas) Deputy police chief Saulius Briginas said the pair flew into Lithuania the day before the attack and left immediately afterwards, with no prior links to the country.
- Official · Prosecutor Nerijus Puskorius Prosecutor Nerijus Puskorius said the men face terrorism-related charges carrying up to 15 years in prison.
- Official · Lithuanian police (Saulius Briginas) Briginas linked the suspects to similar Starlink arson attempts in Poland and Bulgaria, where other people have already been detained.
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
Why it matters for Europe
Starlink underpins Ukraine's battlefield communications against Russia, making its ground stations across Europe a target for sabotage. Parallel investigations in Lithuania, Poland and Bulgaria point to a coordinated campaign against the network rather than isolated incidents.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 3 countries.
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Questions and answers
- What happened in Vilnius?
- Two men resident in Germany tried to set fire to Starlink equipment in Vilnius this month using flammable liquids and petrol bombs, causing no serious damage, Lithuanian officials said.
- Who are the suspects?
- Two dual nationals in their 20s, one German-Turkish and one German-Serbian, detained in Germany at Bulgaria's request.
- Are the suspects linked to other incidents?
- Yes, Lithuanian officials say they are also linked to Starlink arson attempts in Poland and Bulgaria.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.