{{Short description|Less-lethal projectile}} A '''sponge grenade''' is a riot control weapon, intended to be non-lethal, which is fired from a 40 mm grenade launcher to cause confusion, or otherwise temporarily disable its target. As a single blunt force object, it is best used when aimed at a particular individual. thumbnail|Sponge grenade projectile The projectile weighs about {{convert|28|g|oz|abbr=off}}. It is bullet-shaped, with a foam rubber nose and a high-density, plastic projectile body. [[File:Sponge grenade 2.jpg|thumbnail| Israeli Policemen carrying Sponge grenades against Bedouin demonstrators in Hura, November 2013]]
==Potential for injury or death== Proper use of the weapons involves firing it from a medium distance, and aiming for the legs or lower torso.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title='Less lethal' can still maim and kill: A visual guide to weapons police use on protesters |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/06/20/less-lethal-rubber-bullet-protester-pepper-ball-tear-gas-injured-blinded/5343717002/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=www.usatoday.com |language=en |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202192140/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/06/20/less-lethal-rubber-bullet-protester-pepper-ball-tear-gas-injured-blinded/5343717002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Firing it too close, or firing it too far away which decreases the ability to accurately aim for the legs or lower torso, can cause serious injury.<ref name=":0" /> [[File:Sponge grenade injuty.jpg|thumb|Head injury from sponge grenade, Kafr Qaddum]] Improper use of sponge grenades can cause broken bones, head wounds, or permanent damage to eyes.<ref name="haaretz">{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-danger-of-sponge-rounds-1.5300832|title=Police's Use of Sponge Rounds Must Be Strictly According to Protocol|date=Sep 14, 2014|author=Haaretz Editorial|website=Haaretz|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805175911/https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-danger-of-sponge-rounds-1.5300832|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sponge grenades impacting the upper body or head can kill.<ref name="haaretz" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://mondoweiss.net/2017/08/bullets-israels-munitions/|title=Sponge rounds, rubber bullets, and tear gas — how Israel's non-lethal munitions can kill|first=Sheren|last=Khalel|date=14 August 2017|website=Mondoweiss|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008055525/https://mondoweiss.net/2017/08/bullets-israels-munitions/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Sponge hit.gif|thumbnail|Demonstrator hit by sponge grenade in Ni'lin, November 2015]]
==Use around the world== ===Israel===
Israel has deployed sponge grenades against Palestinian protesters on several occasions,<ref name=haaretz/> and has also used the grenades against Israeli demonstrators during 2015 protests against police brutality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=מקומית |first=שיחה |date=2015-05-03 |title=הפגנת יוצאי אתיופיה: רימוני הלם, כדורי ספוג ועשרות פצועים ועצורים |url=https://www.mekomit.co.il/שידור-חי-מהפגנת-יוצאי-אתיופיה/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=שיחה מקומית |language=he-IL}}</ref>
===Hong Kong===
The Hong Kong Police Force has deployed sponge grenades as a riot control tool on several occasions in July 2019 during the anti-extradition protests.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/hong-kong-riot-police-fire-teargas-at-protesters-as-two-cars-ram-crowds|title=Hong Kong protests descend into chaos during citywide strike|website=The Guardian|first1=Lily|last1=Kuo|first2=Christy|last2=Choi|location=Hong Kong|date=5 Aug 2019|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008055101/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/hong-kong-riot-police-fire-teargas-at-protesters-as-two-cars-ram-crowds|url-status=live}}</ref>
===New Zealand=== During the fourth week of the 2022 Wellington protests against COVID-19 pandemic safety measures, the New Zealand Police deployed sponge grenades as one of the many tools used in their effort to clear the parliamentary grounds of rioters.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=Bricks thrown, sponge bullets fired in Wellington unrest |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/bricks-thrown-sponge-bullets-fired-wellington-unrest |work=Otago Daily Times |location=New Zealand |access-date=3 Mar 2022 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202192143/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/bricks-thrown-sponge-bullets-fired-wellington-unrest |url-status=live }}</ref>
===United States=== Sponge grenades were used by some police departments during the George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020 and were cited as being one of the most common types of less-lethal rounds employed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fowers |first1=Alyssa |last2=Steckelberg |first2=Aaron |last3=Berkowitz |first3=Bonnie |title=A guide to the less-lethal weapons that law enforcement uses against protesters |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/05/less-lethal-weapons-protests/ |accessdate=6 June 2020 |agency=The Washington Post |date=5 June 2020}}</ref> In some cases, protesters were hit in the head or face with the rounds, causing serious injury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gliha |first1=Lori Jane |title=Police projectile fractures Denver protester's face; she says it was unprovoked |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-projectile-fractures-denver-protesters-face-she-says-it-was-unprovoked/ |accessdate=6 June 2020 |agency=KVDR FOX31 Denver |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202192143/https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-projectile-fractures-denver-protesters-face-she-says-it-was-unprovoked/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gliha |first1=Lori Jane |title=Lawsuit asking for Denver PD to stop using PepperBalls and sponge grenades moves to federal court |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/lawsuit-against-city-of-denver-that-calls-for-the-stop-of-police-use-of-less-lethal-weapons-moved-to-federal-court/ |agency=KVDR FOX31 Denver |date=5 June 2020 |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913224325/https://kdvr.com/news/local/lawsuit-against-city-of-denver-that-calls-for-the-stop-of-police-use-of-less-lethal-weapons-moved-to-federal-court/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Police shot journalist Linda Tirado in the face with a sponge grenade, permanently blinding her in one eye; <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/photographer-sues-says-officers-blinded-her-in-eye-with-nonlethal-shot-during-mpls-unrest/571266322/|title = Photographer amid Minneapolis unrest sues, says officers blinded her in eye with nonlethal shot|website=Star Tribune }}</ref> she entered hospice care four years later due to the traumatic brain injury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schuman |first=David |date=2024-06-20 |title=Journalist shot by Minneapolis police during 2020 protests dying from injuries |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/journalist-linda-tirado-minneapolis-police-dying-hospice-care/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=CBS Minnesota |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== * Non-lethal weapon * Baton round * Rubber bullet * Plastic bullet * Bean bag round * Wooden bullet
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/40-sponge.htm More data and a picture] from the website of the Federation of American Scientists {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
Category:Baton rounds Category:Non-lethal projectiles Category:Paramilitary cartridges