Norway investigates potential links to exploding Pagers in Lebanon

OSLO: Norway’s security police, PST, have opened a preliminary investigation into news reports that a Norwegian-owned firm could be involved in the distribution of some of the pagers that exploded last week, killing at least 39 people and injuring thousands, all reportedly linked to Hezbollah.

Within two days, several of Hezbollah’s operatives’ pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in Lebanon. These attacks are believed to be instigated by Israel, but the country neither confirmed nor denied the accusations. It remains still unknown how the pagers were weaponized for remote detonation.

The entire concept of investigation is to know if there is enough basis for a full inquiry into the media allegations on the involvement of the company supplying the pagers, according to PST lawyer Haris Hrenovica. Police do not have specific suspicions so far, he added.

At the same time, Bulgarian authorities are probing Norta Global Ltd. in Sofia, reportedly engaged in organizing the distribution of the pagers. Established in 2022 by Norwegian citizen Rinson Jose, Norta Global came under the scanner after a Hungarian media report.

When contacted for comment, Jose refused to comment on the matter and has since declined to respond to our queries.
On LinkedIn, he indicates that he has worked for DN Media Group since February 2020. There are no links to Norta Global or any information establishing that Norta Global is connected in any way to the media company.

Other countries looking into supply chain lead include Taiwan, Hungary, and Bulgaria.