In a quiet Budapest neighborhood, a company named BAC Consulting has been linked to recent deadly attacks in Lebanon and Syria. The firm, registered as a limited liability company in May 2022, reportedly supplied devices that exploded in coordinated attacks, resulting in numerous casualties.
The attacks occurred in two waves. The first, on September 17, 2024, involved pagers that detonated, causing at least 12 fatalities and injuring approximately 2,800 people. The following day, a second wave targeted walkie-talkies and solar equipment, leading to at least nine deaths and over 300 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have attributed these attacks to Israel, though no official confirmation has been provided. The situation has raised concerns about regional stability, particularly given the complex geopolitical landscape of the area.
BAC Consulting's involvement stems from its connection to Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company whose brand appears on the explosive devices. Gold Apollo stated that it had authorized BAC to use its trademark for product sales in specific regions, but emphasized that BAC was solely responsible for the design and manufacturing of the products.
The Hungarian government, through spokesperson Zoltán Kovács, has distanced itself from the incident. Kovács stated that BAC Consulting acted merely as a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary. He assured that the devices in question were never present in the country and that national security services were cooperating with international partners.
"Authorities have confirmed that the company in question is a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary. It has one manager registered at its declared address, and the referenced devices have never been in Hungary."
At the center of this controversy is Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono, BAC Consulting's CEO. She describes herself as a strategic adviser and business developer with a doctorate. Her LinkedIn profile lists various affiliations, including board membership at the Earth Child Institute and advisory roles for organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and CARE. However, some of these claims have not been independently verified.
The IAEA confirmed that a person named Cristiana Arcidiacino interned with the agency for nine months in 2008-2009. Bársony-Arcidiacono's academic background reportedly includes studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the School of Oriental and African Studies.
As investigations continue, the incident highlights the complex nature of international trade and the potential for seemingly innocuous businesses to be linked to geopolitical conflicts. The situation also underscores the challenges faced by countries like Lebanon, which has struggled with political instability since gaining independence from France in 1943.
The unfolding events serve as a reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region, particularly in Syria, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011. As the international community seeks answers, the role of BAC Consulting and its CEO in this incident remains a subject of scrutiny and debate.