Gold Apollo stated on Wednesday that the pagers used in the recent Lebanon explosions were not manufactured by them but by a company called BAC, which has a license to use their brand.
What Happened: At least nine people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured when pagers used by Hezbollah members detonated across Lebanon on Tuesday. According to a senior Lebanese security source, the explosives inside the devices were planted by Israel's Mossad spy agency, Asahi Shimbun reported on Wednesday.
Images of the destroyed pagers analyzed by Reuters showed a format and stickers consistent with those made by Gold Apollo. However, Gold Apollo’s founder and president, Hsu Ching-kuang, clarified that the products were not theirs but had their brand on them.
Gold Apollo stated that the AR-924 model was produced and sold by BAC, which is authorized to use their brand trademark in specific regions. The design and manufacturing of the products are entirely handled by BAC.
Hsu mentioned that there had been issues with remittances from BAC, noting that payments had come through the Middle East. He did not provide further details.
While Hsu was addressing reporters, police and officials from Taiwan's economy ministry arrived at the company. The ministry later stated there was no record of direct pager exports from Taiwan to Lebanon.
Gold Apollo plans to sue the licensee, BAC, for their involvement in the incident. “We may not be a large company but we are a responsible one,” Hsu said.
“This is very embarrassing.”
Why It Matters: The explosions have had a significant impact on Hezbollah, with over 1,000 militants wounded and at least three killed. The group has since ordered its members to discard their pagers immediately.
The coordinated nature of the explosions, which occurred almost simultaneously, has raised suspicions and led to accusations against Israel. Lebanese authorities report 2,750 injuries and nine deaths, including a child.
U.S. officials have stated they had no prior knowledge of the attack, while both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government are pointing fingers at Israel. The incident has heightened tensions in the region, with potential for further retaliation.
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Photo via Shutterstock.
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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