Turkey detains 85 Poland arson suspects

28 October, 02:16 AM
World
Starlink terminal antenna (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

Starlink terminal antenna (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

Turkish police detained 85 people in 30 provinces during raids targeting the Istanbul-based Daltonlar criminal group, Turkish Minute reported on Oct. 27.

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.

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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.

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