The echoes of explosions reverberated across Lebanon, sending shockwaves not only through its people but through the world of technology, where a name—once trusted—suddenly appeared in an unfamiliar light. A Japanese handheld radio manufacturer, Icom, rejecting its relation with the shattered devices that bore its mark. These devices, linked to deadly incidents, became unwelcome participants in a tragic accident that left 20 souls lost, hundreds injured, and a nation in mourning.
WATCH: Japanese radio equipment maker Icom Inc said that it was investigating the facts regarding news reports that two-way radio devices bearing its logo have exploded in Lebanon https://t.co/nH91TTZo5U pic.twitter.com/olRTMCvpEy
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) September 19, 2024
The IC-V82 transceivers in question, once upon a time proudly crafted by Icom in the heart of Osaka, had not seen the light of a production line for over a decade. It was not only the radios that had been discontinued— no, the lifeblood of these devices, their batteries, were no longer part of Icom’s world. Yet here they were, in the hands of this horrific destruction, seemingly back from the grave. Was it coincidence, fate, or something far more sinister?
Reuters from the Japanese company Icom whose radios exploded yesterday in Lebanon:
“We stopped selling these type of radios and their batteries a decade ago.” pic.twitter.com/6eqhfvUJTk
— Rat Bastard (@RRespawned) September 19, 2024
What complicates this story of darkness is not just the age of the devices but the absence of Icom’s protective seal—proof that the world is often infiltrated by shadows. Counterfeiters, unseen, slip through cracks and flood markets with devices that somehow match the original but carry the core of deception. This revelation raises an uncomfortable question: how did these fakes find their way into the hands of those bent on harm?
Japanese firm Icom announces it stopped producing and exporting walkie-talkies linked to Lebanon explosions
• Production of batteries for IC-V82 model also discontinued, with no confirmation if product involved counterfeit
• Icom stresses all radios made in Japan under… pic.twitter.com/8Zpht5Glu8
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) September 19, 2024
This is not a separate or an individual story, for just days before, a similar tragedy unfolded. Explosions tied to another Asian manufacturer, this time from Taiwan, unleashed devastation— pagers, of all things, wreaking havoc. In both stories, the same thread weaves through… authenticity in question, people died, and the sense that sometimes, the ghosts of technology never truly fade.
Major Points
- Icom, a Japanese radio manufacturer, faces scrutiny after counterfeit versions of its discontinued IC-V82 transceivers were linked to deadly explosions in Lebanon.
- The radios, out of production for over a decade, had been altered with non-Icom batteries, leading to their dangerous misuse.
- Counterfeit devices bearing Icom’s mark flooded markets, complicating the company’s ability to control its reputation and product safety.
- Similar incidents involving counterfeit technology from other Asian manufacturers raise concerns over the dangers of fake devices.
- Icom now works to distinguish itself from the tragedy, emphasizing the importance of verifying authenticity in a market rife with counterfeits.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News