The group is suspected of involvement in the arson attack on
a Starlink ground station in Poland. Thirty-five of those detained were minors.
Investigators say the group recruited people through social media, added them
to WhatsApp groups and assigned them targets there. Authorities believe some of
those detained were preparing additional attacks.
The Starlink station in Wola Krobowska, south of Warsaw, was
set on fire Sept. 23. The blaze damaged the station’s power system and
generator, but no one was injured. The station later resumed operations.
Polish Minister-Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz
Siemoniak blamed Russian intelligence for the arson. The Ukrainian military
uses Starlink for communications and to coordinate combat operations.
On Oct. 12, German authorities detained two Turkish
citizens, ages 34 and 38, in Nürtingen under European arrest warrants issued at
Poland’s request. A German court ordered that they remain in custody pending
transfer to Poland, where they face allegations of sabotage and working for a
foreign intelligence service. Der Spiegel and German broadcaster ARD had
previously reported on their suspected links to Daltonlar.
Turkish investigators believe the group is being directed
from Russia. Its suspected leader, Beratcan Gökdemir, also known as Can Dalton,
is wanted by Interpol. Russian authorities detained him in 2024 but did not
extradite him despite requests from Turkey.
On Sept. 25, Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office
said it was investigating the fire in Wola Krobowska as sabotage and an act of
terrorism carried out on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.