Norwegian citizen linked to Hezbollah beeper sale goes missing in Oslo

The situation is evolving. A Norwegian citizen has been linked to the sale of beepers that were reportedly used by Hezbollah, which detonated in Lebanon last week. The individual was officially reported missing on Wednesday after failing to show up at work on Monday.

On Thursday, Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) issued an international request for the missing man. A spokesperson from Oslo Police District confirmed that a missing persons case has been opened and an international alert was sent out through Kripos.

Oslo police have initiated inquiries following the news linking the Norwegian to the sale of the beepers, although they have not commenced a formal investigation. The Norwegian Security Service (PST) also announced the establishment of a case to determine if any criminal activities were involved.

The missing man’s employer stated that he attended a conference in the U.S. the previous week and has not been in contact since last Wednesday. Although he is a Norwegian citizen, he was born in another country. Local media report that even his family in his country of birth has not heard from him since then.

A Hungarian company allegedly posed as a manufacturer of beepers, claiming to fulfill an order of 5,000 units for Hezbollah, unaware that Israel was behind the operation. The beepers contained explosives and were sent to Lebanon. Following their deployment by Hezbollah, the devices exploded, resulting in 37 fatalities and approximately 3,000 injuries.

As of September 25, Kripos reports that 410 Norwegians are sought internationally, with eight cases publicly listed on Interpol’s website.