23 September 2024

What we know about the Hezbollah walkie-talkie explosions

Matt Murphy & Joe Tidy

At least 26 people including two children were killed and thousands more injured, many seriously, after communication devices, some used by the armed group Hezbollah, dramatically exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the latest round of blasts, exploding walkie-talkies killed 14 and injured at least 450 people, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

The explosions occurred in the vicinity of a large crowd that had gathered for the funerals of four victims of Tuesday's blasts.

BBC teams in the city reported chaotic scenes in which ambulances struggled to reach the injured, and locals became suspicious of anyone using a phone.

The explosions deepened unease in Lebanese society, coming a day after an apparently similar, and highly sophisticated attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members.

The militant group blamed its adversary Israel. Israeli officials have so far declined to comment.

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