Non-lethal grenade
M84 stun grenade
A stun grenade , also known as a flash grenade , flashbang , thunderflash , or sound bomb ,[ 1] is a non-lethal explosive device used to temporarily disorient an enemy's senses. Upon detonation, a stun grenade produces a blinding flash of light and an extremely loud "bang". They are often used in close-quarters combat , door breaching , and riot control , typically to stun enemies or distract them.[ 2]
Originally developed to simulate explosions during military training, stun grenades were first used by the British Army Special Air Service 's counterterrorist wing in the late 1970s,[ 3] [ 4] and have been used by police and military forces worldwide since.[ 5]
Despite their less-lethal nature, stun grenades are still capable of causing harm, and can injure or kill when detonating in close proximity. They are also capable of sparking fires.[ 6]
^ "Drugs raid recovers tonnes of cocaine and marijuana in Chile" . Daily Telegraph . London. September 3, 2014. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014.
^ "Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office > Current Intermediate Force Capabilities > M-84 Flash Bang Grenade" . jnlwp.defense.gov . Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved 2024-08-03 .
^ "SAS - Weapons - Flash Bang | Stun Grenade" . Elite UK Forces. Archived from the original on 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2013-05-29 .
^ Bonneville, Leigh, The SAS 1983-2014 (Elite) , Osprey Publishing, 2016, ISBN 1472814037 ISBN 978-1472814036 , p.9
^ McEvoy, Matthew, et al. "State violence against protesters: Perspectives and trends in use of less lethal weapons." Torture Journal 34.1 (2024): 35.
^ Angwin, Julia; Nehring, Abbie. "Hotter Than Lava" . ProPublica . Retrieved 2023-09-08 .