Sponge grenade

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.

Sponge grenade projectile

The projectile weighs about 28 grams (0.99 ounces). It is bullet-shaped, with a foam rubber nose and a high-density, plastic projectile body.

Israeli Policemen carrying Sponge grenades against Bedouin demonstrators in Hura, November 2013

## Contents

* 1 Potential for injury or death
* 2 Use around the world
* 2.1 Israel
* 2.2 Hong Kong
* 2.3 New Zealand
* 2.4 United States
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## 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.[1] 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.[1]

Improper use of sponge grenades can cause broken bones, head wounds, or permanent damage to eyes.[2] Sponge grenades impacting the upper body or head can kill.[2][3]

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,[2] and has also used the grenades against Israeli demonstrators during 2015 protests against police brutality.[4]

### 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.[5]

### 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.[6]

### 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.[7] In some cases, protesters were hit in the head or face with the rounds, causing serious injury.[8][9] Police shot journalist Linda Tirado in the face with a sponge grenade, permanently blinding her in one eye; [10] she entered hospice care four years later due to the traumatic brain injury.[11] During the June 2025 Los Angeles protests, CNN anchor Erin Burnett misidentified spent sponge grenades as homemade gas grenades and alleged them to be part of a protestor-led chemical attack. [12]

## See also

* Non-lethal weapon
* Baton round
* Rubber bullet
* Plastic bullet
* Bean bag round
* Wooden bullet

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "'Less lethal' can still maim and kill: A visual guide to weapons police use on protesters" (in en). https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/06/20/less-lethal-rubber-bullet-protester-pepper-ball-tear-gas-injured-blinded/5343717002/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Haaretz Editorial (Sep 14, 2014). "Police's Use of Sponge Rounds Must Be Strictly According to Protocol". https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-danger-of-sponge-rounds-1.5300832.
3. ↑ Khalel, Sheren (14 August 2017). "Sponge rounds, rubber bullets, and tear gas — how Israel's non-lethal munitions can kill". https://mondoweiss.net/2017/08/bullets-israels-munitions/.
4. ↑ מקומית, שיחה (2015-05-03). "הפגנת יוצאי אתיופיה: רימוני הלם, כדורי ספוג ועשרות פצועים ועצורים" (in he-IL). https://www.mekomit.co.il/שידור-חי-מהפגנת-יוצאי-אתיופיה/.
5. ↑ Kuo, Lily; Choi, Christy (5 Aug 2019). "Hong Kong protests descend into chaos during citywide strike". Hong Kong. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/hong-kong-riot-police-fire-teargas-at-protesters-as-two-cars-ram-crowds.
6. ↑ "Bricks thrown, sponge bullets fired in Wellington unrest". Otago Daily Times (New Zealand). 2 Mar 2022. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/bricks-thrown-sponge-bullets-fired-wellington-unrest.
7. ↑ Fowers, Alyssa; Steckelberg, Aaron; Berkowitz, Bonnie (5 June 2020). "A guide to the less-lethal weapons that law enforcement uses against protesters". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/05/less-lethal-weapons-protests/. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
8. ↑ Gliha, Lori Jane. "Police projectile fractures Denver protester's face; she says it was unprovoked". KVDR FOX31 Denver. https://kdvr.com/news/local/police-projectile-fractures-denver-protesters-face-she-says-it-was-unprovoked/. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
9. ↑ Gliha, Lori Jane (5 June 2020). "Lawsuit asking for Denver PD to stop using PepperBalls and sponge grenades moves to federal court". KVDR FOX31 Denver. 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/.
10. ↑ "Photographer amid Minneapolis unrest sues, says officers blinded her in eye with nonlethal shot". https://www.startribune.com/photographer-sues-says-officers-blinded-her-in-eye-with-nonlethal-shot-during-mpls-unrest/571266322/.
11. ↑ Schuman, David (2024-06-20). "Journalist shot by Minneapolis police during 2020 protests dying from injuries" (in en-US). https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/journalist-linda-tirado-minneapolis-police-dying-hospice-care/.
12. ↑ https://bsky.app/profile/chadloder.bsky.social/post/3lr7wtv6bvk2q

## External links

* More data and a picture from the website of the Federation of American Scientists

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