London 2012: Sonic Weapon Deployed For Olympics

PA  |  Posted: 11/05/2012 21:45 Updated: 11/05/2012 21:45   PA

A device which can be used as a sonic weapon is being deployed in London for the Olympics.

The American-built long range acoustic device (LRAD) can be used both as a high-powered loud speaker and to emit an ear-piercing beam of sound.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that it was among a "broad range of assets" being used by the armed forces to provide security during the Games.

A spokesman said it would be used primarily in "loud hailer mode" in order to issue verbal warnings to any boats on the River Thames that were causing concern.

However the LRAD, which can reportedly emit a highly directional beam of sound at a pain-inducing 150 decibels, has also been used by the US Army as a crowd control device in Iraq.

"As part of the military contribution to the police-led security effort to ensure a safe and secure games, a broad range of assets and equipment is being used by our armed forces," the MoD spokesman said.

"This includes the LRAD which will be deployed during the Olympic Games primarily to be used in the loud hailer mode as part of the measures to achieve a maritime stop on the Thames."

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A device which can be used as a sonic weapon is being deployed in London for the Olympics. The American-built long range acoustic device (LRAD) can be used both as a high-powered loud speaker and t...
A device which can be used as a sonic weapon is being deployed in London for the Olympics. The American-built long range acoustic device (LRAD) can be used both as a high-powered loud speaker and t...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
Abandon hope when you post on here
05:59 PM on 05/12/2012
They should test it in Parliament
05:50 PM on 05/12/2012
how about mini nuclear bombs, they would be handy.
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03:53 PM on 05/12/2012
I don't understand this great emphasis on the olympics in London. Is this really a massive tourist attraction greater than anything else? Getting ready for all the people who will flock there, how much more people than a normal season? Besides, it is in different places in London. We all cannot get tickets so the tv is the second choice and why would you come to London to do that?

This sonic device is dangerous. Suppose someone flicks the switch wrongly and babies anbd kids get their ear drums damaged? We don't need this.
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03:10 PM on 05/12/2012
"A spokesman said it would be used primarily in "loud hailer mode" in order to issue verbal warnings to any boats on the River Thames that were causing concern."

Erm? Why not use a loud hailer?
05:53 PM on 05/12/2012
Thames Division launches have loudhailers as standard fittings.
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Mad Hatter 1
02:31 PM on 05/12/2012
The massive amounts of money waisted on this adventure, is beyond reason.
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vividrick
I came, I saw...I had a cup of tea!
11:27 AM on 05/12/2012
I think the original invoice said it wanted something to make the Olympics in surround-sound! Balls-up!
10:05 AM on 05/12/2012
they should rename Huffpo.uk to CommentsClosed.co.uk

theres barley a thread on the front page that hasnt been closed, why do you even bother having a comments field if its so aggressively moderated , by comparison the US site is rarley moderated, comments are almost never closed.

Do negative opinions scare your lawyers? England has spiraled into a politically correct Orwellian joke walking on eggshells not to offend someone with a strong opinion on something.
05:57 PM on 05/12/2012
If a story concerns an incident which will lead to criminal proceedings, there is a legal requirement to prevent comments which might prejudice a trial. Likewise there is the requirement for AOL not to publish libellous comments. Hence "Comments closed" in the former instance and "This comment has been removed" in the latter instance.
03:04 AM on 05/13/2012
interesting , but since when do websites take responsibility for viewers posts . i can remember seeing many sites that have the disclaimer about the opinions of posters not reflecting the opinion and legal standpoints of the host website.
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Lord Justice Wolf
09:23 AM on 05/12/2012
Who was it who said that if you have to live in fear, then the terrorist has won? The Government has won then really as there the only terrorists I can see messing around with peoples emotions and manipulating that fear? Either that or someone is putting in for hue cheques to cover all this security and tking a huge slice of that pay??? My guess is the latter? Someone is earning big bucks at the cost of the tax payer...? Be interesting to see who got the contract to provide Olympic security? Or who got the job to oversea the costs involved etc? Were there is money of this magnitude.........., there is a sleaze ball corrupt minister at the helm.
09:16 AM on 05/12/2012
Would not be the same weapon that was used on a certain beach to kill dolphins and birds then!
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09:03 AM on 05/12/2012
soon be over the olympics,thank goodness,human beings are experts at deystroying what should be a celebration of sport.
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01:03 AM on 05/12/2012
freedom, huh, what is it good for??
fuzzychickens
The higher the power, the bigger the lies
12:39 AM on 05/12/2012
Enjoying the police state over there?

I think we'll surpass you this summer in the states with some crackdowns and maybe even the microwave gun will be used.

It's a great time to be alive.
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raker
12:30 AM on 05/12/2012
It's long past time to put an end to the Olympics. It's a colossal waste of money, a huge burden for the people who live in the host cities, and a security nightmare. And TV coverage of the athletic events is unwatchable.
02:59 PM on 05/12/2012
It's not even a genuine test of amateur athletic prowess any more. Just a herd of highly paid professionals who race, jump and swim against each other all the year round anyway. A travelling circus without any interesting animals. The results are almost invariably a fore-gone conclusion. The only real benfeficiary will be Lord Cohen and his money making associates.
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tracingagent
03:24 PM on 05/12/2012
@ raker -I concur with you. Who wants to pay to watch drug fuelled so called athletes. It's a total waste of time and money.