Bulgaria seeks arrest of Germans in Starlink antenna arson
Authorities in Bulgaria have issued an international arrest warrant for two German citizens suspected of deliberately destroying Starlink satellite internet antennas.
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Bulgarian authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for two German citizens suspected of setting fire to Starlink antennas near the capital. The court in Sofia approved the European arrest warrant after prosecutors stated the suspects carried out the planned attack on October 9.
Prosecutors identified the suspects as Tirpan Beytula and Zeka Islam and charged them in absentia. According to the indictment, three antennas were completely destroyed, two were partially damaged, and three others were affected by the fire. The two individuals allegedly entered Bulgaria via the Kalotina border crossing in a car with German registration plates and departed through the same crossing hours later.
If convicted, the men face a prison sentence of three to 12 years. The court's ruling is subject to appeal.
This incident follows similar arson attacks involving torched antennas in Poland and Lithuania. Authorities in those countries have linked the sabotage to Russia, raising concerns about hybrid warfare tactics. Ukraine has been utilizing Starlink antennas for its military communications, highlighting the critical role the technology plays in ongoing conflicts.