Norwegian national linked to Bulgarian company under scrutiny after pager explosions in Lebanon and Syria

The man identified as the owner of a Bulgarian company alleged to have sold pagers to Hezbollah has not returned to work. According to his employer, he was attending a course in the USA last week and was expected back on Monday, but he did not show up. The employer confirmed, “He is not in the office today.” They have not been in contact with the Norwegian since Wednesday of the previous week and indicated there is no information suggesting he returned to Norway over the weekend.

The employer has not reported him missing, but they are continually assessing the situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that they have been contacted regarding the man.

Last week, several pagers exploded in Lebanon and Syria, with reports indicating these devices, simpler than smartphones, are harder to track due to their reliance on radio technology. Hezbollah has used them for communication. According to Amnesty International, at least 37 people were killed and around 3,000 injured in the blasts.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, though several have pointed fingers at Israel, including Hezbollah. Reports suggest that the man had a profile on an Israeli networking site, and sources indicate Hungarian and Bulgarian companies were involved in the pager trade. The Bulgarian company is owned by the Norwegian national, but authorities in both Hungary and Bulgaria have denied any involvement in the import or export of the pagers.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized that the attacks represent a significant coordinated assault on thousands of people, warning that the situation in the Middle East could escalate further into regional conflict.