Devices involved have been out of production since 2014, says ICOM Inc
ICOM Inc, a Japanese radio equipment manufacturer, said it is unable to verify if the walkie-talkies linked to the explosions in Lebanon were sent by them. ICOM states that the product has been out of manufacturing since 2014 and needs batteries that are no longer being made for about ten years. Furthermore, the batteries utilized for the devices have also been phased out.
ICOM, a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, stated on Thursday that it is looking into claims of two-way radio devices with its logo exploding in Lebanon. The company announced that it will share new information on its website, according to news agency Reuters.
Also read: Israeli Defence Minister announces ‘new phase of war’ following Hezbollah pagers explosion
ICOM, which produces its radios exclusively in Japan, has not been able to verify if the device in question was an official product, in part because the model has been out of production for more than ten years. The company from Osaka stressed that only authorized distributors sell their products in international markets, and that exports are carefully evaluated to meet Japan’s security trade control regulations.
The company has previously alerted customers about fake versions of its products, especially older models that are no longer being sold, being sold in the market.
Also read: Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo denies making pagers used in Lebanon blasts
Walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon killed 20 and injured over 450 people
Pictures of the blown-up walkie-talkies displayed tags with “ICOM” and “Manufactured in Japan,” prompting questions about where the devices came from. Local officials reported that in Hezbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon, over 450 people were injured and 20 lost their lives in a second round of explosions on Wednesday.
According to a contact with ties to Hezbollah, explosive devices belonging to the group exploded in their central base in Beirut, and there were also reported explosions in the southern and eastern areas of the country, as stated by news agency Reuters.
The incident occurred one day after numerous pager devices belonging to Hezbollah exploded, causing the deaths of 12 individuals and injuring approximately 2,800 people throughout Lebanon.
Also read: 9 killed, 2,750 injured in pager explosions in Lebanon; Hezbollah vows to retaliate against Israel
Even though Israel has not provided any statements regarding the consecutive explosions, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a “new stage in the conflict”.
Addressing Israeli soldiers on Wednesday, Gallant stated, “A new stage in the conflict has begun, necessitating bravery, resolve, and persistence.”
