Lebanon pager explosions: 7 unanswered question on how bombshell tech attack was allowed to happen

Pagers blew up and injured thousands across Lebanon earlier this week with Israeli intelligence agents suspected to be behind the attack that dented the operations of terror group Hezbollah

The exploding pagers attack in Lebanon that left scores dead has left a host of unanswered questions over who made the devices and how they were detonated.

The first attack, where Hezbollah pagers were detonated across the country, left at least 12 dead, including children, some 2,800 others wounded. And just a day later, Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 20 people were killed and another 450 were injured in a second wave of detonations.

The second set of explosions were triggered inside walkie-talkies and solar equipment that exploded in Beirut and other parts of the Middle Eastern country. The attacks are believed to have been carried out with Lebanon's neighbour Israel and have raised further questions about whether tensions will flare up further in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Those targeted in the explosions are understood to be members of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, which has launched rocket attacks into the territory in Israel. In response, Israel has launched strikes into Lebanon that have left hundreds dead with tens of thousands on each side of the border having been displaced. Here are some unanswered questions following Tuesday and Wednesday's technology explosions.

Who made the pagers?

Hezbollah said it ordered some 3,000 pagers from Taiwanese company Gold Apollo. But the company said in a September 18 statement that it did not make the pagers and that the model "is produced and sold by BAC." The blown apart remains of the devices appeared to show the word "Gold" as the product's distributor.

BAC Consulting, a Hungarian-based company, was incorporated in 2022 and has one single shareholder. It is also registered to a building in Budapest's 14th district, according to the BBC. The company also appeared to feature Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono as the only chief executive and does not mention other employees.

Why did Hezbollah use pagers?

Hezbollah is understood to have made the switch away from mobile phones to pagers in a bid to avoid Israeli detection. Fighters for the terror group were warned by its leader Hassan Nasrahhah earlier this year to beware using mobile phones.

"If you are looking for the Israeli agent, look at the phone in your hands and those of your wives and children," he said. The

Who carried out explosions?

Hezbollah has vowed retaliation against Israeli following the deadly explosions. A Hezbollah official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the explosions were the "biggest security breach" for the militant group in about a year.

The Israeli military has not responded to questions about the detonations. On its social media page, Israel asked "what would you do?" in a tweet posted today that addressed Hezbollah's rocket strikes aimed at Israel. The Mirror has contacted the Israeli government for comment.

What did BAC's Chief Executive say

British-educated businesswoman Bársony-Arcidiacono has denied any involvement with the pagers and told US outlet NBC: "I don't make the pagers. I am just the intermediate. I think you got it wrong." Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesperson for the Hungarian government, said in a September 18 Twitter post: "The Hungarian government’s position on the "pager issue": 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. During further investigations, Hungarian national security services are cooperating with all relevant international partner agencies and organizations. To Hungary, this case poses no national security risk." The Mirror has contacted Bársony-Arcidiacono for comment.

What would cause the devices to explode?

Several experts told the Associated Press that the tiny explosives might have been built into the pagers before they were delivered to Hezbollah. The devices were then triggered to detonate simultaneously.

A former British Army bomb disposal officer, who spoke to the agency on the condition of anonymity said Israel's foreign intelligence agency Mossad was the most obvious suspect behind the attack.

Will there be further explosions?

Lebanon has been gripped by panic following the multiple explosions that left children dead. Following the blasts, members of the Lebanese Armed Forces have carried out several explosions of suspicious devices, MailOnline reported. It comes after solar panels, fingerprint devices and radios also exploded. People posted on social media amid fears that "smartphones are next" and that "any electronic device can be used like a bomb," according to the outlet.

One commentator said 'if pagers can be hacked to explode, cell phones will be next'. Dr Lukasz Olejnik, visiting senior research fellow of Department of War Studies of King's College London told the outlet that a cyber hack triggered by battery overheating and not with any implanted device was "unlikely." It raises questions over whether any other devices in Lebanon have implanted explosives in them.

Who approved the explosions?

It is unclear who approved the multiple explosions across Lebanon this week. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken voiced his frustration over the surprise attack that he said could derail efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and terrorist organisation Hamas, which is in control of the Gaza Strip.

According to US outlet PBS, he said: "We've seen an event that...threatens to slow it, stop it, derail it." Israel has not commented on the attack, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been reluctant to de-escalate his country's operation to save hostages held in Gaza. The Mirror has contacted Middle East experts for comment.