Topline
Taiwanese wireless device maker Gold Apollo said Wednesday the pagers used by Hezbollah members, which exploded in Lebanon and Syria and killed at least nine people a day earlier, were license-manufactured by a Hungarian company, despite carrying its brand name.
TOPSHOT – A photo shows the remains of exploded pagers on display in Beirut.
Key Facts
According to several reports, pagers involved in Tuesday’s blasts appeared to be a Gold Apollo-branded AR-924 model, whose product page appears to have been taken down from the company’s website.
Speaking to reporters at the company’s headquarters in Taipei, Gold Apollo’s founder Hsu Ching-kuang said the exploding pagers were made by Budapest-based BAC Consulting—who had been authorized to use the Taiwanese company’s brands for “product sales in designated regions.”
Hsu told reporters has no idea how the pager became an explosive, saying “I’m just doing my business, why am I getting involved in a terrorist attack?”
Hsu claimed his company has had some issues with BAC in the past, pointing to their “strange” remittances that were routed through the Middle East.
Describing his company as a victim, Hsu acknowledged the incident was “very embarrassing” and that he plans to sue BAC.
In a statement on its website, Gold Apollo claims the design and manufacturing of the AR-924 was “solely the responsibility of BAC.”
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What Do We Know About The Ar-924?
While Gold Apollo says it was not involved in designing the AR-924, the company’s website used to have a product page for the pager. According to an archived version of the page, the product was named Rugged Pager (AR-924). The product page boasts an 85-day battery life for the pager, likely a useful feature for Hezbollah operatives due to Lebanon’s unreliable power grid. The page makes no mention of the AR-924 being designed or manufactured by BAC or any other company. The only reference tying it to Europe is the mention that the pager has CE or “European conformity” approval that is needed for electronics sold in Europe—something not mentioned on the product page of other devices.
What Do We Know About Bac?
BAC Consulting Kft. is based in Budapest, Hungary, and according to the Associated Press, it appears to be a shell company. The company’s website is no longer accessible but an archived version of its “About Us” page offers no details on what it actually does, other than a few canned quotes about “leadership”, “creativity” and “innovation.” Its LinkedIn profile also offers little detail aside from the vague line that the company works “internationally as agents of change with a network of consultants.” The company’s website lists Cristiana Arcidiacono-Bársony as its founder and CEO and she spoke to NBC News, confirming that her company worked with Gold Apollo. But when asked about the exploding pagers she said: “I don’t make the pagers. I am just the intermediate. I think you got it wrong.” Citing public records, AP reports that BAC was registered as a limited liability company in 2022, but Bársony-Arcidiacono’s LinkedIn profile says she’s been the company’s CEO since 2019.
Key Background
According to Lebanese officials, at least nine people—including a young girl and a Hezbollah member—were killed Tuesday when hundreds of pagers exploded simultaneously across the country and in parts of Syria. At least 2,750 others were injured in the blasts. Shortly after the incident, Lebanese officials blamed Israel while the Iran-backed Hezbollah vowed to retaliate against the Jewish state.
How Did The Pagers Explode?
Little is known as to how the pagers simultaneously exploded on Tuesday, but Lebanese officials and the militant group Hezbollah have blamed Israel. Citing an unnamed official, the AP reported that Israel had briefed the U.S. about its involvement in the operation in which the pagers were rigged with a small amount of explosives. Lebanese security officials told Reuters that Israel’s spy agency Mossad was likely involved. The Israeli government, however, has not publicly commented on its involvement.
Further Reading
9 Killed, Thousands Wounded After Wireless Devices Explode In Lebanon (Forbes)
Who made the exploding pagers? A messy global trail emerges behind deadly Lebanon blasts (NBC News)
