in

Taiwan prosecutors say 4 questioned so far over exploding pagers linked to Hezbollah

taiwan-prosecutors-say-4-questioned-so-far-over-exploding-pagers-linked-to-hezbollah
Taiwan prosecutors say 4 questioned so far over exploding pagers linked to Hezbollah

Taiwan prosecutors said on Thursday that they have so far questioned four people as witnesses in their investigation into a Taiwanese company linked to pagers that detonated last week in Lebanon in a deadly blow to Hezbollah.

Security sources said Israel was responsible for the pager explosions that raised the stakes in a growing conflict between the two sides. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Hsu Ching-kuang, head of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, speaks to the media about the hundreds of explosive-packed pagers used by Hezbollah members.

Hsu Ching-kuang, head of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, speaks to the media about the hundreds of explosive-packed pagers used by Hezbollah members. AFP via Getty Images

Employees of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo.

Taiwan-based Gold Apollo said it did not manufacture the devices used in the attack, and that Hungary-based company BAC to which the pagers were traced had a licence to use its brand. AFP via Getty Images

How or when the pagers were weaponised and remotely detonated remains a public mystery and the hunt for answers has involved Taiwan, Bulgaria, Norway and Romania.

Taiwan-based Gold Apollo said last week it did not manufacture the devices used in the attack, and that Hungary-based company BAC to which the pagers were traced had a licence to use its brand.

Taiwan’s government also said the pagers were not made in Taiwan.

A spokesperson for the Shilin District Prosecutors Office in Taipei, which has been leading the probe into Gold Apollo, said in addition to two people questioned last week it had also questioned one current and one former employee as witnesses.

Pagers were left mangled after the deadly explosion.

Pagers were left mangled after the deadly explosion.

Man seen bloodied on the ground after the pager explosion

The explosive pagers killed nine people, reports said.

“We are processing this case expeditiously and seeking resolution as soon as possible,” the spokesperson added, declining to name the people questioned or say whether prosecutors planned to question further people.

Last week, prosecutors questioned Gold Apollo’s president and founder, Hsu Ching-kuang, and Teresa Wu, the sole employee of a company called Apollo Systems.

Gold Apollo has not commented on that investigation and did not respond to a further request for comment on Thursday.

Reuters has not be able to reach Wu for comment. Neither answered reporter questions last week when they left the prosecutors’ office.

japanese-court-acquits-former-boxer-in-1966-murder-retrial-after-decades-on-death-row

Japanese court acquits former boxer in 1966 murder retrial after decades on death row

russian-missiles,-drones-target-kyiv-for-hours,-hammering-ukraine’s-power-grid

Russian missiles, drones target Kyiv for hours, hammering Ukraine’s power grid