Two men living in Germany have been arrested at Bulgaria's request on suspicion of attempting to set fire to Starlink equipment in Vilnius earlier this month, Lithuanian law enforcement officials said on Thursday. The suspects face suspicions of forming and participating in a terrorist group.
The two suspects were arrested in Germany at Bulgaria's request, Lithuanian law enforcement officials said. Saulius Briginas, deputy head of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, told reporters the men were foreign nationals in their 20s, one holding German and Turkish citizenship and the other German and Serbian citizenship. Investigators believe the men arrived in Lithuania on the eve of the incident and left immediately after the attempted arson. "They have no ties to Lithuania and came here to commit this crime," Briginas said. "This was not a spontaneous crime. They knew exactly where they were going and what they intended to do, and they prepared for it in advance."
Nėrijus Puškorius, chief prosecutor in the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Division of the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor's Office, said the men face suspicions of forming an organised terrorist group to commit terrorist crimes, participating in a terrorist group, travelling for terrorist purposes, and committing a terrorist act that could have had serious consequences. The most severe penalty for forming or participating in a terrorist group is 10 to 15 years in prison, Puškorius said. The suspects had been placed on a wanted list.
The attempted arson took place several weeks ago at premises belonging to Lithuanian company Delska, where SpaceX operates and stores Starlink equipment. Lithuanian politicians have linked the incident to Russia. Similar incidents have been investigated in Bulgaria, where several antennas used to connect to the Starlink satellite network were set on fire, and in Poland, where a fire broke out at a Starlink satellite communications station in September.
Briginas said the two suspects were also linked to arson attacks targeting Starlink equipment in Poland and Bulgaria. He added that more people have been detained in Poland in connection with the incidents. The two men arrested in Germany are not believed to have personally set fire to Starlink equipment in Poland, but investigators suspect they were involved in that crime as well.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attempted arson targets critical satellite internet infrastructure used by Ukraine and Western allies, highlighting hybrid attacks.
- It suggests coordinated efforts to disrupt Starlink services across Europe.
- The case tests international cooperation on terrorism charges.
Background
Starlink is a satellite internet network operated by SpaceX. Since the war in Ukraine began, it has been widely used by Ukrainian forces and civilians, making it a target in hybrid warfare. The pattern of arson attacks in Lithuania, Poland and Bulgaria indicates a wider campaign.
Key Perspectives
Lithuanian law enforcement (Saulius Briginas): says the suspects came to Lithuania specifically to commit the crime, knew where they were going, and prepared in advance. "They have no ties to Lithuania."
Lithuanian prosecutors (Nėrijus Puškorius): says the men face charges of forming and participating in a terrorist group, with potential sentences of 10 to 15 years.
Lithuanian politicians: have linked the incident to Russia, though specific evidence is not described in the source.
What to Watch
- Whether Germany extradites the two suspects to Lithuania.
- Further arrests in Poland and possible charges there.
- Any statements from Russia about the allegations.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTwo German citizens were arrested over a suspected Starlink equipment arson attempt in Vilnius.LRT English: “Two German citizens arrested over suspected Starlink equipment arson attempt in Vilnius.”
- SupportedTwo men living in Germany were arrested there at Bulgaria’s request over a suspected attempt to set fire to Starlink equipment in Vilnius earlier that month, Lithuanian law enforcement officials said Thursday.LRT English: “Both men, who live in Germany, have been arrested there at Bulgaria’s request, Lithuanian law enforcement officials said Thursday.”
- SupportedBriginas said the men came to Lithuania to commit the crime and prepared in advance.LRT English: ““They have no ties to Lithuania and came here to commit this crime,” Briginas said. “This was not a spontaneous crime. They knew exactly where they were going and what they intended to do, and they prepared for it in advance.””
- SupportedBriginas said the suspects were linked to Starlink arson attacks in Poland and Bulgaria.LRT English: “Briginas said the suspects were also linked to arson attacks targeting Starlink equipment in Poland and Bulgaria.”
- SupportedBriginas said, “They have no ties to Lithuania and came here to commit this crime.”LRT English: ““They have no ties to Lithuania and came here to commit this crime,” Briginas said.”
- SupportedBriginas said, “This was not a spontaneous crime. They knew exactly where they were going and what they intended to do, and they prepared for it in advance.”LRT English: ““This was not a spontaneous crime. They knew exactly where they were going and what they intended to do, and they prepared for it in advance.””
- SupportedThe suspects were foreign nationals in their 20s; one had German and Turkish citizenship and the other German and Serbian citizenship.LRT English: “The suspects are foreign nationals in their 20s, one holding German and Turkish citizenship and the other German and Serbian citizenship, Saulius Briginas, deputy head of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, told reporters.”
- SupportedInvestigators believe the men arrived in Lithuania on the eve of the incident and left immediately after the attempted arson.LRT English: “Investigators believe the men arrived in Lithuania on the eve of the incident and left immediately after the attempted arson.”
- SupportedPuškorius said the men face suspicions including forming and participating in a terrorist group, travelling for terrorist purposes, and committing a terrorist act that could have had serious consequences.LRT English: “Nėrijus Puškorius, chief prosecutor in the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Division of the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office, said the men face suspicions of forming an organised terrorist group to commit terrorist crimes, participating in a terrorist group, travelling for terrorist purposes and committing a terrorist act that could have had serious consequences.”
- SupportedPuškorius said the most severe penalty for forming or participating in a terrorist group is 10 to 15 years in prison.LRT English: “The most severe penalty for forming or participating in a terrorist group is 10 to 15 years in prison, Puškorius said.”
- SupportedThe attempted arson took place several weeks ago at Delska premises where SpaceX operates and stores Starlink equipment.LRT English: “The attempted arson in Vilnius took place several weeks ago at premises belonging to Lithuanian company Delska, where the US company SpaceX operates and stores Starlink equipment.”
- SupportedLithuanian politicians have linked the Vilnius incident to Russia.LRT English: “Lithuanian politicians have linked the incident to Russia.”