I don't think they used flash bangs....

[catnhatnh]

the video I've seen show normal tear gas canisters. AFAIK flash bangs are made to both blind and deafen at levels that overwhelm the human senses and do not throw smoke afterward as that would impair the police forces from further action. It is reprehensible enough that other projectiles were used. But I think normal CS canisters are being misidentified...the audio displays no concussive sound.

[catnhatnh]

1. OK...over 75 reads and no comments...

How about a little feedback from police or military types with more experience-am I mistaken?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. I tend to agree, noise makers, not true FBs

[SlimJimmy]

2. The other point is that flash-bangs are designed to be used in close and

closed quarters. They are not all that effective out in the open.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. I have seen them use in the open, much more powerful than on the videos I saw

Camera artifacts could account for that, but it is a stretch.

Regardless it was serious overkill and firepower

[SlimJimmy]

8. I've never seen them used in the open. That's not to say that they

can't be. But since they are basically a concussive grenade, their use in the open defeats their stated purpose.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. It was more of a demo to show why they are not nearly as effective in the open

The light did not overwhelm the camera sensor which is one of the reasons I think it is more likely a grenade simulator

Again, clearly excessive firepower...

[SlimJimmy]

20. That could have been the case. They will certainly get someone's attention

regardless of where they are used.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. I agree. Whether they were original flashbangs" or other pyrotechnics is really academic

It was serious overkill regardsless

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Been watching more videos...clearly pyrotechnics were used

were they "Flashbangs"...hard to tell. They certainly were not as powerful the ones I have seen used, but it really does not matter. The OPD severely over reacted with excessive force.

[catnhatnh]

5. Thanks for the replies...

I would never argue the force used was not disproportionate or wrong, I just wouldn't want to see our case ridiculed because it was overstated.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. I think they committed crimes against humanity.

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. I can't find the video, 27 seconds of ground-level footage, but they were LOUD as hell.

Stunningly loud, way out of the ordinary.

[SlimJimmy]

10. A triple chaser CS cansiter is also pretty loud when parts two and three

separate from the main and shoot down the street. I'd take a guess and say that's what was being used.

[kentuck]

11. They sounded like a small bomb..

not a tear gas grenade. Meant to shock and frighten, it seemed to me.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. Found it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwGAMt7GvdE&list=FLmbtpDQcIb2UFYtrWBjFCkA&index=1

[valerief]

14. They were LOUD and SCARY. It sounds like WAR. nt

[uppityperson]

9. What are they using in this video, throwing into crowd trying to take Scott Olsen away?

http://youtu.be/OZLyUK0t0vQ

I don't know what, but thought it might show something to someone.

[arcane1]

13. I only saw the one vid, of the cop tossing something at the downed man and those around him

and I watched it at work with no sound. The cop definitely threw something there, and the group ran away from it, and there was a flash of light and then something smoke-like.

My ignorance of both devices prevents me from saying it's a flash bang or tear gas. But it was a 1,000% dick move by the cop who did it.

I did see a lot of what looked like fireworks, which annoyed me, but that's not what was tossed over that barricade.

Personally, I don't want ANYONE doing stupid shit like throwing things, setting off fireworks, breaking things, or lighting things. It only takes one, ONLY one asshole to ruin it. I'm on the lookout for them, and I hope everyone else is.

[PoliticAverse]

15. Additional video of the events...

http://www.ktvu.com/video/29587714/index.html

[justiceischeap]

17. Scott Olsen's roommate, interviewed on KO tonight, said you could hear

the explosions up to 2 miles aways. I don't know how loud flash bangs are supposed to be compared to CS canisters but I saw some flashing and heard some banging in the vids.

[kestrel91316]

18. I dunno, I'm not qualified to decide. When the crowd gathered around the

downed Marine, the cops managed to lob and set off some sort of thing that EXPLODED among those people.

[rms013]

22. I believe they did

My daughter has rubber bullets, an expended tear gas canister and the remnants of a flash bang grenade, she couldn't find a bean bag. All of which was shot at or around her.
If you look at the films you will see the tear gas canisters being launched by a weapon, not thrown. If you look at the video of the people around Scott Olsen I believe you will see a flash bang grenade,thrown by a policeman, go off amid those trying to rescue him. Further here is part of a write up on the M84 stun grenade: The M84 contains a minimal amount of explosives and, when initiated, produces illumination through oxidation (burning) of the components of the charge. Some non-toxic smoke is produced in minimal amounts.