Burak Bir
29 October 2026•Update: 29 October 2026
Two German citizens have been arrested in Germany over suspicion of trying to set fire to Starlink equipment in Lithuania earlier this month, officials in the Baltic country said Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Saulius Briginas, deputy head of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, said that both men, who live in Germany, were arrested there at Bulgaria’s request.
Investigators believe the men arrived in Lithuania on the eve of the incident and left immediately after the attempted arson in the capital Vilnius, public broadcaster LRT reported.
"They have no ties to Lithuania and came here to commit this crime," Briginas said.
He added: "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."
Nerijus Puskorius, chief prosecutor in Vilnius’ Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Division, said the men face suspicions of forming an organized terrorist group to commit crimes and taking part in a terrorist group.
The suspects had been placed on a wanted list, and Lithuanian authorities are cooperating with law enforcement partners in Bulgaria, Poland, and Germany.
Briginas said the suspects were also linked to arson attacks targeting Starlink equipment in Poland and Bulgaria, adding that more people have been detained in Poland in connection with the incidents.
The attempted arson in Vilnius took place earlier this month at premises belonging to Lithuanian company Delska, where the US company SpaceX operates and stores Starlink equipment.
Lithuanian politicians have accused Russia of being involved in the incident.
Since 2022, Ukraine has used Starlink and its military-grade service Starshield as part of its defense in the Russia-Ukraine war.
