Luke BEIRUT, Sep 19 – The explosions of thousands of Hezbollah’s mobile communications devices have spread panic across Lebanon, with people fearing they may have bombs in their pockets.
In the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday, pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members exploded, killing at least 37 people and wounding more than 3,000. Lebanon and Hezbollah said the attacks were carried out by Israel.
Since the attacks, false rumors have spread about other types of phones and even devices exploding.
Mustapha Jemaa said he had removed some stock from his electronics store in the southern city of Sidon.
“We had some equipment that we thought was 100 percent safe, but out of an abundance of caution, we removed it … because we were concerned,” he said.
The Lebanese army on Thursday called on citizens to report any suspicious objects they see. It also said the army was carrying out controlled explosions of pagers and other devices believed to be fake.
Lebanon’s civil aviation authority on Thursday banned the carrying of walkie-talkies and pagers on flights or planes, the state news agency reported.
Tuesday’s blast killed or wounded Hezbollah fighters, doctors and civil service staff. Among those killed on Tuesday were at least two children who died when their father’s pager exploded.
“Of course we are scared, my children, my siblings’ children, all of us. Who can feel safe in this situation?” said Beirut resident Mustafa Sibai.
“When I found out what happened yesterday, I left my phone on the motorcycle and went away,” he said.
Ziad Makkari, information minister for Lebanon’s caretaker government, said panic was expected to spread, adding that the attack was “a new crime against the Lebanese people” that affected people’s homes, jobs and daily lives.
But he added, “There are a lot of rumors – walkie-talkies exploding, solar (systems) exploding, TVs exploding, smartphones exploding.” “There are a lot of lies … a lot of fake news, and that doesn’t help.”
