Australia
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By mid-2016, most
Australian police forces had acquired LRADs (
Queensland Police said that they had been using it since 2009),<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-chang2016-22"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a> and concerns were raised about their use for crowd control.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-rn2016-23"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a> However, before 2020, there was no use of the LRAD in public situations; most usage had been by the various police forces for communications during
natural disasters or for negotiations with
hostage-takers<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-convfeb2022-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a><a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-chang2016-22"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a> in a
siege, where it was too dangerous to approach a suspect.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-chang2016-22"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a><a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-rn2016-23"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a> In June 2020, during the
Black Lives Matter protests in New South Wales,
NSW Police used LRADs in a different way for the first time,<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-convfeb2022-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> and it has been used at other anti-racism protests in Australia.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-abcfeb2022-24"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a>
The device came to the attention of the wider public when it was used at the
2022 anti-vaccine mandate Canberra protests in "loud hailer" mode for voice messages to be announced to the protesters, and there was speculation among protesters regarding purported harms from its use. However, there was no evidence that it was used as a siren. In addition, some reports appeared to confuse the LRAD with other crowd control devices, such as the
Active Denial System;<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-convfeb2022-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> one activist claimed that "
supersonic weapons" had been used.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-abcfeb2022-24"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a>
Czech Republic
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On June 26, 2015, Czech Special Forces Police may have deployed an LRAD 500X during anti-immigration and anti-Islam protests in
Brno, the second largest city in the
Czech Republic.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a><a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a>
Police in
Prague used a vehicle-mounted LRAD on November 17, 2020, to repeatedly alert protesters on Wenceslas Square to follow COVID restrictions and wear masks.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-27"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a> On that day, police supervised several rallies, meetings and demonstrations. Thousands of participants gathered at the largest protests in the Old Town Square. The police and a Prague City Hall representative used an LRAD to repeatedly call upon demonstrators to follow COVID public safety protocols and to comply with security measures.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a>
During a November 25, 2021 march from the center of Prague to the local soccer stadium for a
Europa Conference League match, Prague police and regional Czech law enforcement officers utilized vehicle mounted LRADs to broadcast frequent warnings against the use of pyrotechnics by the large crowds.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a>
Prague police officers utilized a vehicle-mounted LRAD to issue more than 500 warnings to revelers not to set off pyrotechnics during downtown December 31, 2021 - January 1, 2022 New Year's Eve celebrations.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a>
A vehicle-mounted LRAD was deployed by police in Prague on March 11, 2023, to communicate to and warn away demonstrators from the National Museum.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-31"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a>
Germany
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In the first half of 2020, Bad Homburg's fire brigade and city police used an LRAD 100X system more than 60 times to deliver COVID-19 information.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a>
Greece
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Hellenic Police acquired two LRAD systems to be used at the
Evros border. These were tested after the March 2020 migrant crisis at the border, triggered by the Turkish government. They are to be used as a deterrent against illegal border entry, as a notification system, as well as to handle aggressive actions against the
Hellenic Armed Forces.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a><a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a>
Japan
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Japan's Coast Guard used Long Range Acoustic Devices and other methods to expel a North Korean fishing flotilla from its waters in September 2017.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a>
In February 2009, the Japanese whaling fleet operating in Antarctic waters near Australia installed LRADs on their vessels. The device was used against activists of the
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a> The Japanese fleet later escalated the use of LRAD, deploying it against a Sea Shepherd helicopter carrying a camera crew.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-37"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a><a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-38"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a> Sea Shepherd noted that they had an LRAD of their own, but as of early 2010, had not put it into use<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-STREET_FIGHT-39"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a> other than to play a recording of "
Ride of the Valkyries" in the manner of attacking U.S. Army helicopters depicted in the 1979 film
Apocalypse Now.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-40"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a>
New Zealand
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During the dispersion of New Zealand's parliament protest in March 2022, LRAD were used by New Zealand police against the protesters. A document released under the Official Information Act (OIA), revealed two long range acoustic devices (LRADs) were deployed at the Parliament protest on March 2.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a> <a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a>
Poland
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LRAD was present, but not used because of current legal regulations during protests in Poland, including
Million Marijuana March 2011 and Marsz Niepodległości (National Independence Day March) 2011 and 2012. Lacking a way to utilize the LRADs purchased to their full potential sparked an investigation suspecting corruption behind their acquisition. National Police Headquarters spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski defended the purchase of LRAD. He also stressed that the police decided to make this investment because, "We needed good sound reinforcement equipment. With numerous demonstrations and gatherings, police need a public address system that allows you to reach thousands of people."<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a>
Municipal police in Gdańsk, Poznań, Kołobrzeg and other cities in Poland used LRAD systems to deliver COVID-19 notifications.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a><a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-45"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a>
Singapore
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LRAD is used by the Singapore Changi Airport to disperse birds and wildlife from runways.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-46"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a>
Spain
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Local police in Leganés, Spain used a vehicle-mounted LRAD to deliver alerts and notifications to residents during the country-wide COVID-19 lockdown. According to Citizen Security, Communication and local government spokesman, Oscar Oliveira, "Because the acoustic device can be heard inside of houses, we can inform older residents with mobility issues that all municipal resources are available through the Citizen Attention Service by calling 010."<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_acoustic_device#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a>