Japanese Company Investigates Role of Exploded Radios in Lebanon Blasts
The Japanese electronics manufacturer Icom is investigating the involvement of handheld radios bearing its logo in a series of explosions across Lebanon that left at least 20 people dead and over 450 injured.
The radios, identified as IC-V82 transceivers, were linked to the attacks that took place on Wednesday, though Icom clarified that it discontinued production of the model in 2014.
Icom, based in Osaka, Japan, shipped the IC-V82 radios to various markets, including the Middle East, from 2004 to 2014. However, in recent years, the company has warned of an increase in counterfeit versions of its products, including the IC-V82 model. In a statement issued on Thursday, Icom emphasized that none of these radios had been shipped from its Japanese factory in the past decade and raised concerns that the devices involved in the explosions might be counterfeit.
The explosions reportedly involved walkie-talkies owned by members of Hezbollah, though it remains unclear where the devices were purchased. Icom stated that authentic IC-V82 radios carry a hologram seal to differentiate them from counterfeit models, and the company is currently investigating whether the radios involved in the incident had this security feature.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, confirmed that the Japanese government is also looking into the matter.
Icom, founded in 1954, is a global telecommunications equipment manufacturer with over 1,000 employees. The company supplies electronics to public safety organizations and the US Department of Defense but has long been battling counterfeit versions of its products, particularly the IC-V82. According to Icom, counterfeit models are prone to malfunctions, including battery failures that could lead to fires or explosions.
The incident comes a day after a separate explosion involving pagers killed 12 people in Lebanon. While the origins of the walkie-talkies involved in the Hezbollah explosions remain under investigation, Icom has pledged to continue updating the public as it uncovers more information.
The New York Times and BBC contributed to this report.
