The company Genasys, which manufactures the sound cannons operated by the Serbian police, said that the video and audio evidence from the March 15 incident in Belgrade that they have seen and heard thus far does not support the use of LRAD. However, at the same time, they cite findings by Earshot indicating that sound weapons were indeed used against protest participants.
In a response to inquiries about the March 15 incident on their official social media account on platform X, Genasys noted that the existing video and audio evidence does not support the use of LRAD.
The company recalled a recent statement from the Serbian civil society organization CRTA (Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability), which reported that experts from the Earshot organization had determined, based on four recordings from the site of “sound impact” on March 15, that the noise was produced by a Vortex Ring Gun or Vortex Cannon.
It noted that Earshot experts analyzed 12 video documents, some of which were obtained through CRTA, thanks to citizens who shared their recordings.
Genasys recalled that Earshot, the worlds first non-profit organization that researches sound materials in order to protect human rights and the environment, had reported that as this weapon pushes gas out of its cylinder at speeds of 185mph, its expulsion produces a howling noise which has been compared to the sound of a jet engine, along with vortex rings that may be ionized.
“This would create electromagnetic interference with devices such as hearing aids, corroborating reports made by witnesses at the protest. Should this be the vortex cannon, these recordings would be more than 700m away. At this distance the combustion of the weapon is no longer audible; only the distinct whistling sound of the pressure wave as it travels away from the shooter location and towards the crowd can be heard, causing mass panic,” said Earshot.
Citing Crta and Earshot, Genasys concluded that they have no further comments on the incident in Belgrade at this time.
