According to the news of the German magazine Der Spiegel dated October 16, Türkiye-based organized crime organization Daltons may be behind the sabotage of a Starlink station in Poland.
The news, based on independent sources from more than one country, claimed that members of the organization "may have carried out the attack on behalf of Russian intelligence services." No evidence has yet been revealed to prove this claim.
The Starlink station, located in the village of Wola Krobowska in central Poland, was damaged by a fire on September 23.
Providing satellite-based internet service, Starlink plays a critical role in the coordination of communication and defense activities of the Ukrainian army fighting against Russia.
The Polish government declared that the fire was a deliberate sabotage and blamed Russia.
TWO TURKISH CITIZENS IN CUSTODY
As part of the investigation, two Turkish citizens were captured on Monday in Nürtingen, Germany's Baden-Württemberg, in accordance with the Polish authorities' request for legal aid and European arrest warrants.
According to Der Spiegel, the detained suspects are 38-year-old Ümit E. and 34-year-old Müslüm T.
Polish authorities accuse two men of participating in the attack on the Starlink station. The Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart will decide whether the suspects will be extradited to Poland.
The news stated that, based on information obtained from various security institutions, the suspects may be affiliated with the Daltons organization or may have been assigned by members of the organization.
ARE THEIR LEADERS IN RUSSIA?
Considered one of the most effective organized crime structures in Europe, the Daltons operate in Germany and other European countries as well as Türkiye.
Members of the organization have long been associated with crimes such as racketeering, arms dealing and murder for hire.
Beratcan Gökdemir, who is alleged to be the leader of the organization, was caught in Russia in 2024. Türkiye requested the extradition of Gökdemir. However, according to the information obtained by Der Spiegel from German security authorities, Russia's attitude towards Gökdemir has changed noticeably.
It was claimed that the Russian authorities turned a blind eye to the activities of the suspected organization leader and even protected him.
Security experts estimate that the Kremlin may have expected certain services from the Daltons in return for this protection.
It is not known whether Gökdemir is still in Russia.
PAST PROPOSAL
According to Der Spiegel, the German government and security agencies have previously warned that Russia could use organized crime groups in sabotage activities in Europe.
In its response to the Green Party's parliamentary question in May, the German Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the cooperation between Russian state institutions and organized crime actors was especially suitable for sabotage and assassination operations.
It is claimed that Russian intelligence services have mostly used low-profile individuals as well as professional agents in their sabotage activities in Germany and other European countries.
These people include common criminals who perform certain tasks for small wages without knowing the real organizers of the operations, their scope and purposes.
IS THE STRATEGY CHANGING?
According to the magazine, confirmation of suspicions that members of the Daltons were involved in the Starlink attack in Poland could indicate a significant change in the operational methods of Russian intelligence services in Europe.
Such a development may indicate that Moscow has begun to make use of criminal organizations that are more organized, have international connections and have a high capacity for violence, rather than low-profile individual perpetrators.
On the other hand, a fire occurred at a Starlink station in Bulgaria in September. It is not yet clear whether there is a connection between the two events.
WARNING FROM DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE
Sinan Selen, Head of Germany's Federal Organization for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV/Domestic Intelligence), said in a statement on Monday that Europe is facing a growing security threat.
Selen, who did not directly mention Russia by name, pointed out that different attack methods and actors were used in a coordinated manner.
