Mother says woman is in hiding due to company’s link to exploding pagers

The CEO of a consulting firm linked to a recent deadly attack involving explosive pagers in Lebanon and Syria is reportedly under the protection of Hungarian secret services. Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono has not been seen publicly since the attacks on Tuesday, which targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and are widely believed to have been orchestrated by Israel.

Bársony-Arcidiacono’s mother, Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono, shared with The Associated Press that her daughter has been threatened and is currently in a secure location under the care of the Hungarian intelligence. “The Hungarian secret services advised her not to talk to media,” Beatrix stated in a phone call from Sicily.

Despite requests for confirmation, Hungary’s national security authorities have not responded, leaving questions about the detail of the situation unverified. The recent attacks, comprising strikes targeting both pagers and walkie-talkies, have reportedly resulted in at least 37 fatalities and over 3,000 injuries, impacting numerous civilians.

Hezbollah, along with the Lebanese government, has accused Israel of being behind the assault, though the Israeli government has yet to affirm or deny involvement in these incidents.

The inquiry into Bársony-Arcidiacono’s company, BAC Consulting, intensified after Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese entity, stated that while BAC was authorized to utilize its branding on the pagers implicated in the attacks, it was BAC Consulting that handled the manufacturing and design of the devices. On Wednesday, a Hungarian government spokesperson claimed that the pagers intended for Hezbollah never actually originated in Hungary, asserting that BAC Consulting operated merely as an intermediary.

Beatrix further emphasized her daughter’s minimal role, asserting that her daughter was merely a broker in the transaction. “They were not produced in Hungary,” she reiterated. Evidence from the ground suggests that BAC Consulting operates out of a modest building in Budapest, sharing space with various other businesses but lacking any substantial office facilities.

According to public records, BAC Consulting specializes in “environment, development, and international affairs,” and functions encompass a wide range, including sugar and oil production, jewelry retail, and natural gas extraction. The company reportedly generated $725,000 in revenue in 2022 and $593,000 this year, with considerable expenditures on equipment.

BAC Consulting was registered in May 2022, drawing further attention after its involvement in the aforementioned attacks. Beatrix also revealed her daughter’s academic background, stating that Cristiana was born in Sicily and studied at the University of Catania before pursuing advanced studies in London.

Prior to relocating to Budapest in 2016 to care for her elderly grandmother, Cristiana worked in Paris and Vienna, according to her mother. Through social media platforms, she claims to be a strategic advisor and business developer with a robust international background, working with various organizations and venture capital entities.

Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in physics from University College London, where she was enrolled in the early 2000s. Her academic supervisor, Ákos Kövér, a retired professor, confirmed her enrollment but noted that he was not aware of any other activities she may have pursued during that time.

Her eclectic career path includes a notable internship at the International Atomic Energy Agency, during which she confirmed her participation in various research initiatives. Additionally, she has co-authored a paper for a UNESCO conference on underground water management.

On social media, Cristiana has shared photos from her travels and comments supportive of children affected by the conflict in Gaza, while also expressing critical views on Ukraine. She speaks multiple languages, including English, French, Italian, and Hungarian.

Meanwhile, tensions in the region remain high as the Israeli military conducted a “targeted strike” in Beirut, eliminating at least eight individuals, among whom was Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil. The U.S. had previously placed a reward of up to $7 million for information regarding Aqil’s capture, citing his involvement in historical incidents such as the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

Despite warnings from the White House to refrain from escalating their conflict, both Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire stubbornly. In recent nights, Israeli air forces executed numerous strikes across southern Lebanon, further intensifying the ongoing military confrontations.