Mother says woman tied to exploding pagers is under protection

The woman linked to the recent explosion of thousands of pagers in Lebanon and Syria is currently under the protection of Hungary’s secret services. This information was revealed by her mother, Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono, during a conversation with The Associated Press.

Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono has not made a public appearance since a deadly attack on Tuesday that targeted the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, an assault widely attributed to Israel. She holds the position of CEO at Budapest-based BAC Consulting, which has been implicated by the Taiwanese trademark holder of the pagers in the production of the devices.

According to Beatrix, Cristiana has received unspecified threats, prompting the need for protection by Hungarian authorities. “She is currently in a safe place protected by the Hungarian secret services,” her mother reported.

The Hungarian services advised Cristiana against media contact, a directive her mother confirmed. Hungary’s national security officials did not respond to requests for comment, and the details surrounding the situation could not be independently verified.

This week’s events began with two consecutive days of assaults on pagers and walkie-talkies, resulting in at least 37 fatalities and injuries to over 3,000 individuals, including numerous civilians. Regarding these events, both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have pointed fingers at Israel, although Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Scrutiny of Cristiana’s company intensified after Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese entity, stated it had allowed BAC Consulting to use its name on the pagers involved in the initial attack, while claiming that the Hungarian firm was responsible for manufacturing and designing the devices.

A spokesperson for the Hungarian government asserted that the pagers provided to Hezbollah had never passed through Hungary and that BAC Consulting acted merely as an intermediary in the deal.

Beatrix reiterated this perspective, stating, “She is not involved in any way; she was just a broker. The items did not pass through Budapest… They were not produced in Hungary.”

BAC Consulting operates out of a modest building in Budapest, sharing space with other companies but lacking a physical office of its own. According to a woman who left the building earlier this week, the companies utilizing this space only use it as an official address.

According to its website, BAC Consulting specializes in “environment, development, and international affairs.” A review of the corporate registry indicates that the company has 118 official activities listed, including operations in sugar and oil production, retail jewelry sales, and natural gas extraction.

The company reported revenues of $725,000 in 2022 and $593,000 in 2023, with expenditures of approximately $324,000 last year on “equipment,” which represents about 55% of its total revenue.

Business records reveal that BAC Consulting was established in May 2022. Beatrix shared details about her daughter’s background, noting that Cristiana was born in Sicily, attended the University of Catania, and later pursued a Ph.D. in London. Cristiana has held positions in Paris and Vienna before relocating to Budapest in 2016 to care for her grandmother.

On social media, Cristiana identifies herself as a strategic adviser and business developer, claiming experience with major international organizations and venture capital firms. Her company’s website also indicates that she holds a doctorate in physics.

Age 49, she acquired her degree from University College London in the early to mid-2000s, confirmed by a former professor, Ákos Kövér, who indicated that they published articles together during her studies. He expressed limited knowledge of her other professional engagements.

In addition to her academic credentials, Cristiana interned with the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2008 and 2009 and co-authored a paper for a UNESCO conference on groundwater management. On her social platforms, she shares images of her travels across France, the U.K., and other destinations, although her posts attract minimal interaction.

Speaking multiple languages, including English, French, Italian, and Hungarian, Cristiana has occasionally made public comments supporting children in Gaza or criticizing Ukraine.

As the situation continues to evolve, the Israeli military announced a targeted airstrike in Beirut on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals, one of whom was a prominent Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Aqil.

The United States had previously issued a reward of up to $7 million for information relating to Aqil, identified as a significant figure in Hezbollah during the 1980s, specifically connected to the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

Despite warnings from the White House urging both Israel and Hezbollah to avoid escalating tensions after the explosive incidents, Israeli airstrikes continued overnight across southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah responded with its own retaliatory fire.