How pagers turned into explosive devices in Lebanon

Pagers, used every day by health care professionals, became a deadly weapon Tuesday as thousands of them simultaneously exploded in Lebanon.

Pagers, devices that are used every day as a crucial form of communication for health care professionals, became a deadly weapon Tuesday as thousands of them simultaneously exploded in Lebanon, killing 37 people and injuring thousands.

The explosions targeted the militant and political group Hezbollah, after the devices had reportedly begun beeping and heating up. The next day, another wave of wireless walkie-talkies exploded, killing 20 and injuring 450 others. Hezbollah blamed the explosions on Israel, with the group telling Al Jazeera that it holds the “Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression that targeted civilians too.” Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

The shocking incident raised a cascade of questions. Many were left wondering how pagers could have been transformed to cause such devastation.

 Pagers are wireless communication devices that receive radio signals from short- or long-range paging networks.

Pagers are also able to function without cell service or Wi-Fi, making them especially reliable for their main users: hospital staff.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/pagers-turned-explosive-devices-lebanon-rcna171536

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