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The Story

RumorClaims of "sonic weapons" being deployed against protesters in Minnesota have spread rapidly across social media and online discussions, driven by videos showing individuals covering their ears, reports of intense noise, and accounts of lingering discomfort or pain. These allegations emerged during a series of anti-ICE demonstrations in late January 2026, particularly around Maple Grove, where protesters gathered outside hotels believed to house federal immigration agents. While the presence of a specific acoustic device has been officially acknowledged, much of the surrounding narrative mixes verified details with speculation, including exaggerated descriptions of harm and comparisons to more exotic directed-energy systems. Authorities with the Minnesota State Patrol have confirmed the deployment of a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) during at least one incident on January 26, 2026, in Maple Grove. Multiple mainstream sources, including CBS Minnesota (WCCO) and fact-checking outlets like Snopes, report that the device was used primarily to broadcast clear voice commands and dispersal orders after an unlawful assembly was declared. State Patrol officials emphasized that the LRAD, which the agency has possessed since 2013, was not operated in a "deterrent setting" intended to inflict pain but rather to ensure audible communication across the crowd. Video footage and eyewitness descriptions captured officers issuing countdowns before activation, and arrests followed as the situation escalated, with dozens detained amid allegations of property damage and thrown objects. An LRAD is a directional acoustic hailing system designed to project focused sound over significant distances. It functions as an advanced loudspeaker for issuing warnings or instructions. Still, it can also emit high-intensity alert tones that, at close range and maximum volume, produce overwhelming noise capable of causing temporary disorientation, ear pain, tinnitus, nausea, or even hearing damage if exposure is prolonged or intense. Occupational safety guidelines, such as those from OSHA, highlight risks from impulsive noise exceeding safe thresholds, which have fueled longstanding debates about LRADs in crowd-control scenarios. Importantly, the device relies on audible acoustic waves rather than electromagnetic radiation, microwaves, or any form of energy beam, distinguishing it clearly from rumored "sonic" or directed-energy weapons sometimes conflated in viral posts. Allegations of injuries from the Minnesota deployment include protesters describing severe ear pain, persistent headaches, and, in some extreme social media claims, bleeding from the ears. Videos showed people shielding their ears during the event, and critics have pointed to the device's potential for harm, citing its technical capabilities and past use in other protests. However, no official medical reports, independent investigations, or confirmed diagnoses have publicly linked specific injuries to this particular LRAD activation. News coverage has explained what such devices can theoretically cause, but case-specific evidence of harm remains absent, leaving individual claims unverified and medically plausible yet unsubstantiated in this context. Parallel rumors have drawn parallels to alleged "sonic" or "pulsed energy" weapons in Venezuela, especially following the U.S. military operation in early January 2026 that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Eyewitness accounts shared on social media and amplified by White House statements described intense sound waves, disorientation, nausea, and even severe symptoms like nosebleeds among guards. President Trump mentioned a mysterious "discombobulator" device in interviews, while some reports speculated about high-power microwave systems or advanced acoustic devices. International outlets such as Al Jazeera expressed expert skepticism, noting a lack of concrete technical evidence or independent verification. No confirmed use of an LRAD or similar crowd-control acoustic device has been established in Venezuela; the claims center on speculative directed-energy applications during a military raid, not protest suppression, and should not be directly equated with the Minnesota events. The Minnesota case underscores broader concerns about the normalization of acoustic crowd-control technologies, where limited transparency can fuel misinformation and rapid rumor spread. For personal security awareness, the distinction between proven sound-based systems like LRADs and unverified exotic weapons is crucial, as is the need for clear policies on deployment distances, volume controls, and post-incident medical monitoring. While high-decibel acoustic exposure poses real risks, viral narratives often outpace evidence, underscoring the importance of relying on corroborated facts rather than speculation.PSN Assessment
Confirmed: LRAD deployment by Minnesota State Patrol for communication and dispersal during January 2026 anti-ICE protests.
Unproven: Specific, documented injuries directly tied to the Minnesota incident.
Unverified: Use of advanced sonic or energy weapons in Venezuela events.
Ongoing Risk: Potential for misuse of high-output acoustic devices in civilian settings without adequate safeguards.PSN will keep tracking official statements, any emerging medical data, and global trends in acoustic and directed-energy technologies for crowd management.