According to Alice Jill Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, experimental acoustic weapons were reportedly used against protesters in Serbia on March 15, 2025.
In an article for EU Observer, Edwards described the devices as having been previously used in Europe to torture dissidents. Witnesses reported that the weapons emitted a loud and unpleasant sound accompanied by sudden bursts of air and vibrations, causing panic among protesters.
“These acoustic devices require thorough and appropriate investigations,” Edwards stressed.
The incident occurred during a protest in Belgrade, where around 300,000 people demonstrated against President Aleksandar VuÄiÄ. Protesters reported a sudden loud noise that dispersed the crowd and accused police of using an acoustic cannon.
Acoustic cannons, also known as Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), are sometimes used by emergency services for crowd control. They emit intense sound waves that are not always audible to the human ear and can cause headaches or discomfort.
Edwards also noted that in July, the European Union quietly approved a revised anti-torture regulation adopted by 27 member states. This legislation limits the export of similar weapons outside Europe and requires additional authorization for companies trading devices that could be misused for torture.
