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Japanese firm launches probe after devices carrying its logo explode in Lebanon
Icom Inc said it was investigating reports that two-way radio devices featuring its logo were among those that exploded in the latest wave of attacks in Lebanon. Labels saying “ICOM” and “made in Japan” were seen in images of the destroyed walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah on Wednesday.
Icom, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, said in a statement it would publish more information on its website once it had investigated the matter.
Japanese firm says it no longer makes radios used in Lebanon blasts
Icom said in a statement that it had discontinued the production of the handheld radio that was reportedly used in the attacks on Lebanon about a decade ago.
“The IC-V82 is a handheld radio that was produced and exported, including to the Middle East, from 2004 to October 2014. It was discontinued about 10 years ago, and since then, it has not been shipped from our company,” the Japanese company said.
“The production of the batteries needed to operate the main unit has also been discontinued, and a hologram seal to distinguish counterfeit products was not attached, so it is not possible to confirm whether the product shipped from our company.”
Taiwan warns against ‘fake online information’ over pager attacks
A spokesperson for Taiwan’s cabinet said national security units in the territory are monitoring rumours suspected of originating from abroad that seek to “maliciously” link the Taiwanese government to the attacks on Lebanon.
Lee Hui-chih reiterated that pagers exported from the island “do not have a problem with exploding”.
“I remind people to pay attention to fake online information,” she said.
The remarks came after media reports linked Taiwan-based firm Gold Apollo to the pagers that were detonated across Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, as part of what is believed to be an Israeli operation.
Gold Apollo has since denied it produced the devices, saying they were made by a Hungarian company which has a licence to use its design and branding.
Hungary has also denied the pagers were made in the country.
Lebanon blasts raise alarm about supply chain security, safety of tech
The use of pagers and walkie-talkies in back-to-back coordinated explosions in Lebanon has drawn scrutiny to the security of global supply chains and their vulnerability to tampering by governments or other actors.
The utilisation of thousands of electronic devices in the attacks, which are widely believed to have been orchestrated by Israel as part of an operation targeting Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah, has raised the spectre of everyday communications equipment being weaponised in the future.
Tech companies are likely to see the attacks as a powerful reminder of the importance of securing their supply chains, while the general public’s trust in technology may also take a hit, tech industry and supply chain analysts say.
