How is a Kerala-born techie and a Hungarian businesswoman involved in Lebanon pager blasts?

The recent series of deadly explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkie radios in Lebanon, which resulted in the deaths of dozens and injuries to over 3,000, has triggered a multinational investigation spanning from Hungary and Bulgaria to Norway and Taiwan.

The attacks, which are believed to have targeted Hezbollah, have left authorities scrambling for answers about how pagers turned into weapons that can reportedly be detonated remotely.

At the heart of this case are Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, an Italian-Hungarian businesswoman, and Rinson Jose, a Kerala-born Norwegian tech entrepreneur. As details of their involvement emerge, both individuals are now under scrutiny for their possible roles in the deadly plot.

Who is Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono?

Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, is a highly accomplished professional who owns BAC Consulting, a Hungary-based consulting firm. Known for her intellect and diverse background, she speaks seven languages and holds a PhD in particle physics from University College London.

However, despite her impressive résumé and global humanitarian work, she is now linked to the production of the explosive pagers used in the recent attacks.

In a brief interview with NBC News, Barsony-Arcidiacono denied her involvement in the manufacturing of the explosive devices. “I am just the intermediate. I think you got it wrong,” she stated, distancing herself from the incident.

Her company reportedly licensed the design for the pagers from a Taiwanese manufacturer,
Gold Apollo, which has also become a focal point in the ongoing investigation.

Following the news, Barsony-Arcidiacono has not made any further public appearances, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Neighbours in Budapest claim they haven’t seen her recently, and attempts by media outlets to contact her have been unsuccessful.

Although her apartment, plastered with her own pastel drawings, was once accessible, it has since been shuttered.

Hungarian authorities have made it clear that BAC Consulting is a “trading-intermediary company” with no manufacturing site in the country. They stated that the pagers had never been physically present in Hungary, raising questions about how and where they were weaponised.

What is the role of Indian-origin man Rinson Jose?

While Hungary and Taiwan were initially implicated, the focus of the investigation soon shifted to Bulgaria and Norway. Security sources revealed that Bulgarian company Norta Global Ltd., registered in April 2022, had facilitated the sale of the pagers to Hezbollah.

The transaction, reportedly worth 1.6 million euros, allegedly passed through Bulgaria before being funneled to Hungary.

Norta Global’s owner, Rinson Jose, a Kerala-born Norwegian, is now at the centre of the investigation. Jose, who holds an MBA from Pondicherry University and a master’s degree in International Social Welfare and Health Policy from Oslo, has been linked to the operation through his company’s involvement in the deadly transactions.

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Despite owning Norta Global, Jose has denied any direct connection to the blasts.

Jose’s involvement has raised eyebrows, particularly in his hometown of Mananthavady, Kerala, where his family remains under police scrutiny. His parents have claimed they have no knowledge of his current whereabouts. Friends and colleagues in Norway are equally baffled by his sudden disappearance, reported Kerala-based news outlet Onmanorama.

“On learning he was linked to the Lebanon pager bombs, some of his colleagues have tried to reach him, but he’s on a business trip in America and is not answering calls,” one source told UK-based media outlet The Sun. His family last heard from him on Friday, and since then, attempts to contact him have failed.

Norwegian authorities have launched preliminary inquiries into Jose’s activities, while Bulgaria’s National Security Agency has opened a formal investigation into Norta Global Ltd. Bulgarian reports suggest that the company operates as a shell, with no employees and minimal profits. Its address is linked to an agency that sets up shell companies in Bulgaria.

How were the pagers weaponised?

The primary mystery in this case is how the pagers, originally manufactured by Taiwan’s Gold Apollo, were transformed into deadly weapons. There are two prevailing theories. One suggests that the pagers were intercepted after leaving the factory and rigged with explosives.

The other posits that Israel may have orchestrated the entire operation, potentially setting up a supply chain that ultimately delivered the explosive devices to Hezbollah. Israeli intelligence, specifically the Mossad, has been rumoured to be involved, although no direct evidence has surfaced.

A Lebanese security source told Reuters that Hezbollah believed it was purchasing the pagers directly from Gold Apollo, which has denied any involvement in the weaponisation process. “It is possible that the Mossad created a European company,” the source speculated, hinting that the deadly supply chain may have been more elaborate than initially thought.

What are the unanswered questions?

As of now, several key questions remain unanswered. Authorities are still unsure of how and when the pagers were weaponised. The investigation into Norta Global Ltd continues, with Bulgarian authorities probing the company’s financial dealings.

Norwegian security services are also investigating Rinson Jose’s connections, while his family in Kerala awaits news of his whereabouts.

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In Lebanon, Hezbollah is still reeling from the attacks, which escalated tensions in the already volatile region. Israel has not publicly commented on its role in the explosions, but security sources suggest that the pager attacks are part of a broader campaign to weaken the militant group.

With inputs from agencies