Key Takeaways:
– Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company, confirmed the exploding pagers were sold under its brand but manufactured by Hungarian Company, Bac Consulting.
– These explosions caused by pagers labeled with Gold Apollo’s trademark, killed 12 and injured 2,750 across Lebanon and Syria.
– Bac Consulting reportedly paid Gold Apollo from a Middle Eastern bank account marked unusual by Gold Apollo’s CEO.
– Lebanese authorities are pointing fingers at Israel’s intelligence agency for planting explosives in these devices.
– No comments from Bac Consulting or Israeli officials were available at the time of publication.
Trademark Misused in Devastating Attack
Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese electronics firm, has been thrust into the spotlight following a lethal event in Syria and Lebanon, where a blast from pagers claimed 12 lives and injured 2,750 individuals. The company confirmed on Wednesday that these pagers, bearing its logo, were not of its production but were actually made and marketed by Bac Consulting, a Budapest-based company.
Unknown Connections and Suspicious Transfers
Gold Apollo’s CEO, Hsu Ching-kuang insisted in a discussion with NPR that they had neither manufactured nor exported any of the devices in question to Bac Consulting. He made it clear that their collaboration with Bac Consulting, which started three years ago, has been marked by some suspicious financial activities. Numerous funds were transferred to Gold Apollo from Bac Consulting via a Middle Eastern bank account, a move that raised enough red flags to see the account blocked once by a Taiwanese bank.
Hezbollah Connection
Public health officials in Lebanon reported Tuesday’s explosions happened almost simultaneously and targeted thousands of pagers carried by everyone from Hezbollah members. Hezbollah, noted for its ties to Iran, confirmed that the group was the target of the blasts, vehemently blaming the attack on Israel.
Israel’s Involvement
A senior Lebanese security official, cited by Reuters news agency, added more fuel to the fire by purporting that Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, was responsible for planting explosives inside 5,000 of these devices ordered by Hezbollah. It was also reported that these devices had entered Lebanon in the spring.
Silence of the Accused
Despite the accusations, no official statement has been released from either Bac Consulting or Israeli authorities. CBS News stated they requested for a comment but got no response from the Hungarian manufacturing company. Similarly, there have been no public comments from Israeli officials regarding the incident. Nevertheless, U.S. officials did confirm that they were unaware of the incident until it had been completed and they were briefed by Israel.
Who is Behind Bac Consulting?
Hungarian business records show the company was registered in May 2022. Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, listed as Bac Consulting’s CEO, previously worked at prestigious organizations such as the European Union Commission, UNESCO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Despite these heavy credentials, Bac Consulting’s LinkedIn profile only mentions that its services are “business consulting and services.”
In a text response to CBS News, the spokesperson for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban denied any knowledge of the incident. With no concrete evidence or confessions, it remains to be seen what the investigations into this horrifying incident will unravel.
Pagers Used in Attack No Longer Available
The pagers implicated in the tragic event were listed on Gold Apollo’s website as a “rugged” device using a lithium battery. This advertisement has now been removed from their site. Taking this abrupt step further reflects the unfolding crisis.
As this tragic mystery continues to unfold, one aspect remains clear – the explosive pager incident has exposed a complex web of international trade, brand authorization issues, alleged espionage, and shocking violence.