Norwegian Police Request International Manhunt for Individual Linked to Pager Explosions

Norwegian police announced on Thursday, October 5, that they have issued an international manhunt for a dual Indian-Norwegian citizen in connection with the sale of exploded pagers to the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to Reuters, the 39-year-old man disappeared last week during a business trip to the United States. He is identified as one of the founders of a company in Bulgaria that produces pagers exported to Hezbollah. The simultaneous explosion of thousands of pagers belonging to this militant group, supported by the Islamic Republic, occurred on Tuesday, September 18, reportedly due to a cyberattack, followed by the explosion of radios belonging to the group on Wednesday, September 19, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. Lebanese officials and the two militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, along with their supporter the Islamic Republic, have pointed the finger at Israel. However, Israel had not claimed responsibility for the explosions by the time this report was prepared. Earlier, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed officials, that the pagers ordered by Hezbollah from the Taiwanese company 'Gold Apollo' had been tampered with before reaching Lebanon. With the intensification of Israeli military operations against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, concerns about the potential expansion of conflicts to other regions have increased. Hezbollah was established in 1982 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized the group as a terrorist organization. Recognizing Hezbollah as a terrorist organization means not distinguishing between its political and military branches and labeling both as terrorist entities. Reuters states that the 'Revolutionary Guards' have banned the use of communication devices. Hungary claims that the pagers used in the explosions in Lebanon were not manufactured in their country. Reuters: Hezbollah distributed the 'pagers' among its members hours before the explosion. Taiwan and Bulgaria denied involvement in the purchase or sale of the exploded pagers in Lebanon.