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A device which can blast an ear-splitting sound beam as a weapon is being deployed in London for the Olympic Games.

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The long range acoustic device (LRAD) has been used by American military forces in war-torn Iraq for controlling crowds - by emitting a pain-inducing 150 decibel sound.

It can also be used both as a high-powered loud speaker, which was the purpose for it emphasised by the Ministry of Defence.

A spokesman said it would be used primarily in “loud hailer mode” to issue verbal warnings to suspicous boats on the River Thames.

“As part of the military contribution to the police-led security effort to ensure a safe and secure games, a broad range of assets and equipment is being used by our armed forces,” the MoD spokesman said.

“This includes the LRAD which will be deployed during the Olympic Games primarily to be used in the loud hailer mode as part of the measures to achieve a maritime stop on the Thames.”

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Links

Official London Olympics 2012 website
www.london2012.com

Olympic Park Legacy Company
http://www.legacycompany.co.uk/

Working for London 2012
https://locogrecruitment.london2012.com/jobs/main

London 2012 tickets
http://www.tickets.london2012.com/

Olympics schedule
http://media.ticketmaster.com/en-gb/img/sys/tournament/london2012/oly-complete.pdf

Resources
Map of the Olympic Venues (jpg, 558kb)
Map of the Olympic Parks (pdf, 2.6mb)

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