Taiwan questions two in probe into Hezbollah pagers

Two people from Taiwanese companies have been questioned as part of a probe into pagers that exploded while being used by Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, investigators say Friday, as top officials insist the devices were not from the island.

Questions and speculation have swirled over where the devices came from and how they were supplied to the group after hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies detonated across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least 37 people and wounding nearly 3,000.

The New York Times reported this week that Israel had inserted explosive material into a shipment of pagers from Taiwan’s Gold Apollo, citing American and other anonymous officials.

But Gold Apollo head Hsu Ching-kuang denied producing the devices, pointing the finger instead at Hungary-based partner BAC Consulting KFT, which Gold Apollo had allowed to use its trademark.

Local media reported that the second person questioned was Wu Yu-jen, a representative connected to BAC Consulting KFT, who had set up a company based in Taipei called “Apollo Systems.”

“Our country takes the case very seriously,” says the prosecutors’ office in Taipei’s Shilin district in a statement.

The two witnesses were allowed to leave after multiple rounds of questioning.

“We will clarify the facts as soon as possible such as whether Taiwanese companies are involved or not,” the office says.