The Norwegian Security Service (PST) has launched a preliminary investigation into reports that a Norwegian-owned company was linked to the sale of the pagers that exploded in Lebanon last week.
Prosecutor in PST Haris Hrenovica informs.
– PST has initiated a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is reason to initiate a (full, ed.) investigation based on allegations in the media that a Norwegian-owned company may have been involved in the transfer of the pagers to Hezbollah, says Haris Hrenovica.
On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group exploded.
About 40 people were killed and over 3,000 were injured, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said.
Israel has been accused of being behind it, but has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
Taiwan, Hungary and Bulgaria are already investigating possible connections to the supply chain.
After the attack, a Hungarian news portal cited anonymous sources as saying that a company called Norta Global in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, must have imported the pagers and arranged the delivery to Hezbollah.
In the wake of the article, Bulgarian authorities stated that they were also investigating the company.
According to Bulgaria’s business register, the company was founded in 2022 by Norwegian citizen Rinson Jose.
Reuters has called Rinson Jose, who hung up when asked about the ownership of Norta Global. After that, he did not return the news agency’s repeated texts and calls.
His LinkedIn profile shows that he has been employed by DN Media Group since February 2024. According to DN Media Group, he works in the sales department.
According to Norwegian media, he last contacted his colleagues via e-mail on 18 September. His employer has told Reuters that they have not been able to get in touch with him since.
Reuters has found no evidence linking Norta Global to DN Media Group.
/ritzau/Reuters/
Source: www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk
