Norway’s security police force, PST, announced on Monday that it would not pursue further investigation into possible Norwegian ties to the booby-trapped pagers supplied to Hezbollah in Lebanon. These pagers exploded in September, causing dozens of deaths and injuring thousands.
The Israeli government has taken responsibility for the attack, stating it was part of their strategy against Hezbollah. The attack was followed by a large-scale military operation involving air and ground campaigns targeting the Iran-backed militant group.
PST initially began a preliminary investigation when a Norwegian man was identified as the owner of a Bulgarian company under scrutiny in Bulgaria for potential involvement in the case. However, PST concluded there was no need for further inquiry.
“PST’s overall assessment of the findings in the case indicates that there is no basis for initiating an ordinary investigation within our mandate,” PST lawyer Haris Hrenovica said to Reuters on Monday via the agency’s spokesperson. Hrenovica did not provide further details about the findings.
Bulgaria’s security agency, DANS, confirmed on September 20 that none of the pagers used in the Lebanon attack were manufactured or exported from Bulgaria.
The Norwegian man in question, 39-year-old Rinson Jose, reportedly left Norway for the United States on September 17, the day the explosions occurred. Jose had been working in sales at DN Media Group, a Norwegian employer that filed a missing persons report when he disappeared. Police closed the missing persons case on November 5 after Jose contacted his employer.
Authorities in Norway have not disclosed Jose’s current location. When Reuters called his Norwegian phone number, a voicemail stated the phone was switched off. Attempts to reach him via WhatsApp were also unsuccessful.
