Bulgaria Probes Company Linked to Deadly Lebanon Pager Explosions
Bulgaria investigates firm allegedly involved in selling pagers to Hezbollah that exploded in Lebanon. The incident killed 11 and injured 4,000, raising questions about the devices' origin and distribution.
In a recent development, Bulgarian authorities have initiated an investigation into a company allegedly connected to the sale of pagers to Hezbollah, a Shi'a Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. These devices were involved in a series of explosions across Lebanon on September 17, 2024, resulting in 11 fatalities and approximately 4,000 injuries.
The State Agency for National Security (DANS) of Bulgaria, in collaboration with the interior ministry, announced on September 19, 2024, that they are examining the role of a Bulgaria-registered company in this incident. While DANS did not disclose the company's name, Bulgarian media reports have pointed to Norta Global Ltd, a Sofia-based firm, as the alleged facilitator of the pager sales.
Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member since 2007, has a population of about 6.8 million and shares borders with five countries. The nation's capital, Sofia, is where the company in question is reportedly registered. DANS stated that no shipments of the suspected pagers were detected on Bulgarian territory.
The origin of the pagers remains unclear. Analysis of the destroyed devices suggested a format consistent with those manufactured by Taiwan Gold Apollo. However, on September 18, 2024, Gold Apollo claimed that the pagers were produced by BAC Consulting, a Budapest-based company. Adding to the confusion, Hungarian news outlet Telex reported that Norta actually facilitated the sale, citing unnamed sources.
This incident has raised concerns about the distribution and use of seemingly innocuous devices for potentially harmful purposes. Lebanon, with a population similar to Bulgaria's at approximately 6.8 million, has been grappling with an economic crisis since 2019. The country, which gained independence from France in 1943, now faces additional challenges in the wake of this attack.
As the investigation unfolds, it highlights the complex international nature of such incidents, involving companies and authorities from multiple countries. The Bulgarian lev-using nation's involvement in this case underscores the global reach of security concerns and the importance of international cooperation in addressing them.
"We are working with the interior ministry to investigate the role of a company registered in Bulgaria in connection with the recent events in Lebanon."
The ongoing probe aims to shed light on the supply chain of these pagers and potentially prevent similar incidents in the future. As Bulgaria continues its investigation, the international community watches closely, recognizing the far-reaching implications of this event for regional security and global counter-terrorism efforts.
