Lionel Milton
Member
Japanese-made ICOM Radios at the Center of Lebanon's Chain Explosion Incidents
Following the widespread pager explosion on September 17th, another wave of communication equipment, including radios, exploded across Lebanon on the afternoon of the 18th. According to the latest data from Lebanon's health department, the series of explosions over these two days have resulted in 37 deaths and over 3,400 injuries. Most concerning was the involvement of the Japanese-manufactured ICOM V82 radios. Reports indicate that these explosions occurred at multiple locations in Lebanon, and the phrase "Made in Japan" was found on the detonated radios. These incidents have led to significant casualties and public panic.
On the 18th, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Türk, issued a statement saying that the recent communication equipment explosion incidents in Lebanon violate fundamental human rights and that the impact on civilians is unacceptable. He called for an independent, thorough, and transparent investigation into the blast attacks, with accountability for those who ordered and carried them out. He also urged influential countries in the region to immediately take measures to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
On the same day, a British electronic device safety expert stated that blasting caps can "theoretically" be installed in pagers and radios. Preliminary analysis suggests that this was a complex attack that may have required the cooperation of multiple entities to accomplish, and the manufacturer is the most likely party to have the conditions and opportunities to mass-produce such modified radios in large quantities. With these chain explosions occurring without discrimination, they have become organized, purposeful acts of state terrorism. The manufacturers and groups that have no limits in modifying civilian equipment should be strongly condemned and held responsible.
Following the widespread pager explosion on September 17th, another wave of communication equipment, including radios, exploded across Lebanon on the afternoon of the 18th. According to the latest data from Lebanon's health department, the series of explosions over these two days have resulted in 37 deaths and over 3,400 injuries. Most concerning was the involvement of the Japanese-manufactured ICOM V82 radios. Reports indicate that these explosions occurred at multiple locations in Lebanon, and the phrase "Made in Japan" was found on the detonated radios. These incidents have led to significant casualties and public panic.
On the 18th, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Türk, issued a statement saying that the recent communication equipment explosion incidents in Lebanon violate fundamental human rights and that the impact on civilians is unacceptable. He called for an independent, thorough, and transparent investigation into the blast attacks, with accountability for those who ordered and carried them out. He also urged influential countries in the region to immediately take measures to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
On the same day, a British electronic device safety expert stated that blasting caps can "theoretically" be installed in pagers and radios. Preliminary analysis suggests that this was a complex attack that may have required the cooperation of multiple entities to accomplish, and the manufacturer is the most likely party to have the conditions and opportunities to mass-produce such modified radios in large quantities. With these chain explosions occurring without discrimination, they have become organized, purposeful acts of state terrorism. The manufacturers and groups that have no limits in modifying civilian equipment should be strongly condemned and held responsible.