Who Is Cristiana Barsony Arcidiacono? Woman Caught In Lebanon Pager Blast Controversy

A 49-year-old Italian-Hungarian woman and a Kerala man have found themselves embroiled in a major controversy following a coordinated pager blast in Lebanon that killed 12 Hezbollah members and injured thousands. The incident has attracted international attention as investigations uncover new details surrounding the explosive pagers.

Italian-Hungarian Woman and Kerala Man Caught in Lebanon Pager Blast Controversy

The controversy centres around the pager blasts in Lebanon, which targeted Hezbollah members, killing at least 12 and injuring thousands more. The pagers, modified to carry explosives, have been linked to multiple companies. A Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo, stated that it had authorised a Budapest-based firm, BAC Consulting, to use its trademark on the pages involved in the attack. The firm is run by Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, a 49-year-old Italian-Hungarian woman.

Meanwhile, a 37-year-old Indian immigrant to Norway, Rinson Jose, is also under investigation after reports linked his Bulgarian company, Norta Global Ltd., to the pagers used in the blasts. 

Who is Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono?

Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono is at the centre of this controversy due to her role as CEO of BAC Consulting, the company reportedly connected to the explosive pagers. Born in Sicily, she grew up in Santa Venerina, near Catania. Described as reserved during her school years, she went on to earn a PhD in particle physics from University College London. Her career path, however, shifted away from science, with her working on various NGO projects across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Barsony-Arcidiacono’s mother defends her, stating, “She was just a broker. The items did not pass through Budapest. They were not produced in Hungary.” She added that her daughter has received threats and was advised by Hungarian secret services not to speak to the media.

Despite her involvement in numerous projects, Barsony-Arcidiacono is not known to have settled on any particular career path. A former acquaintance described her as “good-willed, not a business type” and “someone who readily believes things.”

Since the pager attacks, Barsony-Arcidiacono has not been seen in public. Neighbours say she has disappeared from her Budapest residence, which is adorned with her pastel drawings of nudes. Her exact involvement in the plot remains unclear.

Who is Rinson Jose?

Rinson Jose, a 37-year-old Indian emigrant from Kerala, is also under investigation for his connection to the pagers. Jose migrated to Norway from Wayanad and later became a Norwegian citizen. His company, Norta Global Ltd., registered in Bulgaria in 2022, was initially reported to be involved in the supply of the explosive pages. However, the Bulgarian state security agency DANS later clarified that no communication equipment linked to the blasts was “imported, exported, or manufactured in Bulgaria.”

“Following verifications, it has been indisputably established that no communication equipment corresponding to those that exploded on September 17 was imported, exported, or manufactured in Bulgaria,” said DANS. The agency further stated that Jose’s company had not carried out any transactions that would violate anti-terrorism financing laws.

Relatives of Jose claim he is innocent and might have been framed. His relative, Thankachen, stated, “He is a straightforward person, and we trust him fully. He will not be part of any wrongdoing. He may have been trapped in these blasts.”

Jose’s family, based in Kerala, has not been able to contact him or his wife for the past few days. He is reportedly on a work trip, and his employer, DN Media, has been unable to reach him since Tuesday. 

Investigations are ongoing as authorities in Hungary, Bulgaria, and Norway continue to probe the connections between Barsony-Arcidiacono, Jose, and the explosive pagers. Both individuals have maintained their innocence, with no clear evidence yet linking them directly to the attack.