On Monday, Norwegian Security Police said it has found no reason to continue investigating potential Norwegian connections to a series of booby-trapped pager explosions in Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah in September. The explosions that brought high casualties were later claimed by Israel, prompting significant military campaigns against the Iran-backed militant group.

No Evidence to Support Further Investigation

Following a series of reports that suggested a possible Norwegian connection to the attacks, PST decided to initiate a preliminary investigation. Innson Jose, an alleged Norwegian citizen, had been recorded as the owner of an investment firm in Bulgaria linked to the attacks. After a thorough consideration of the information, though, PST decided that a full investigation was not warranted.

“PST’s general evaluation of the results of the case is that there is no reason to open an ordinary inquiry in our jurisdiction,” PST lawyer Haris Hrenovica said, speaking through a PST spokesperson. Hrenovica did not comment on the findings in any greater detail.

PST is Norway’s agency focused on counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations, making this decision of further investigation termination very important. The agency made this conclusion based on a lack of concrete evidence linking Norwegian individuals or companies directly with the supply of the booby-trapped pagers used in Lebanon.

Bulgarian Authorities Deny Involvement of Local Citizens

The investigation also involved cooperation with Bulgaria where the security agency DANS had already been investigating the role of Bulgarian companies in supplying the explosive devices. On 20 September, Bulgaria’s security agency declared that it had “indisputably established”that none of the pagers used for the attacks were fabricated or exported from Bulgaria. Such a finding further weakened any possible relation to Norwegian interests.

Enigmatic Leaving of the Key Player

One of the key persons under investigation was Rinson Jose, a 39-year-old Norwegian proprietor of a targeted Bulgarian firm. Jose departed Norway for the United States on 17 September – just when the pagers exploded in Lebanon. His sudden departure raised questions, especially given the fact that his Norwegian employer, DN Media Group, reported him missing a few days later. Norwegian police finally closed the missing persons case at the beginning of November when Jose contacted his employer, confirming that he was safe.

Despite numerous attempts to contact Jose, the latter’s whereabouts remain unknown. When Reuters tried to reach him on Monday, the Norwegian phone number turned out to be switched off. He did not react to the messages sent via WhatsApp. The Norwegian authorities have not exposed his current location.

Pagers Spark Huge Conflict

This time pager explosion was a landmark in the prevailing tension between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel later accepted responsibility for the attacks. The initial blasts surprised Hezbollah, but it quickly led to a large-scale Israeli air and ground attack on the militant organization in Lebanon. This incident set a further strain on an already tense region and pointed out the concerns of the methods and who was funding such operations.

Evidence in the Decision of PST

The PST’s decision to close its case without moving to a full investigation again raises the difficulty in trying to link alleged international supply chains in complex conflict areas. It also underlines the impossibility of carrying out cases where credible evidence is very limited or indirect against foreign entities. For now, Norwegian authorities have concluded that there is no significant Norwegian connection to the events in Lebanon. Many questions are therefore left unanswered about the exact origins and logistics behind the explosive pagers.

Because the investigation has been closed, it is not yet clear whether another revelation will come out, especially since the Middle East remains a hotbed of tension and this problem affects the global geopolitical situation. Norway’s attitude concerning its citizens being part of international disputes remains vigilantly scrutinized, considering the country does its best to fulfill commitments toward world security as well as observe transparency during international investigations.