Over the last week, protesters in Baghdad have died with some absolutely gruesome injuries. Every doc we talked to said it's trauma like they've never seen.
Here's a #thread about the new grenades being used, and why they are so deadly. amnesty.org/en/latest/news…
Here's a #thread about the new grenades being used, and why they are so deadly. amnesty.org/en/latest/news…
Listen, there are videos out there of these horrific injuries at the moment of impact. Do yourself a favor and don't watch them - your sleep will thank you. The CT scans from hospital afterward are bad enough, as you can see. 
Why such awful trauma? Less-lethal weapons can always kill when used incorrectly, and police should never fire grenades directly at people. But this is a new level of damage. Not only are Iraqi security forces firing at point blank range, they are using a heavier kind of grenade.
Most police tear gas grenades we see around the world look like this: a light outer container, a core of CS powder or several smaller canisters that scatter and burn to disperse the irritating gas. They usually weigh between 25 and 50 grams. defense-technology.com/products/chemi…
The grenades Iraqi police are using are different. They are modeled on standard US 40mm high explosive grenades (made for military ops) and consist of a single slug of metal with a little bit of CS inside. And they weigh about 250 grams, up to 10 times as much.
Both the standard police grenades and 40mm tear gas grenades have the same muzzle velocity, which means they leave the launcher at the same speed. Basic physics here: ten times the weight means the grenades hit with ten times the force. THAT'S what's different.
There two main kinds being used. Serbian M99s, made by Balkan Novotech: balkannovoteh.co.rs/en/?page_id=944
(HT to the Iraqi Network for Social Media for all the grenade photos #INSM)
(HT to the Iraqi Network for Social Media for all the grenade photos #INSM)
And two varieties of CS and "smokers" (as the Iraqis call them) that are most likely made by the Bulgarian company Arsenal. arsenal-bg.com/c/rounds-for-g…
(Note that smoke is toxic and meant for the battlefield, not applicable to police actions at all)
(Note that smoke is toxic and meant for the battlefield, not applicable to police actions at all)
There are a few other varieties being used as well, hand-thrown smoke grenades also made Arsenal, and more-standard Chinese NF01 37mm CS grenades, made by Norinco. arsenal-bg.com/c/smoke-hand-g…
But it is the big heavy 40mm grenades that are so problematic and deadly.
Let me say it very clearly: the Iraqi government needs to stop using these grenades. Immediately. Full stop.
/end
Let me say it very clearly: the Iraqi government needs to stop using these grenades. Immediately. Full stop.
/end
One more note, and HT to @CalibreObscura - the Serbian M99s are distributed by Balkan Novotech (among others) but are actually manufactured by Sloboda Čačak.
