flashbang

A stun grenade, also known as a flash grenade, flashbang, thunderflash or sound bomb, is an ostensibly non-lethal explosive device, used to temporarily disorient an enemy's senses. It is designed to produce a blinding flash of light of around 7 million candela (cd) and an intensely loud "bang" of greater than 170 decibels (dB). It was first used by the British Army's Special Air Service in the late 1970s.The flash momentarily activates all photoreceptor cells in the eye, blinding it for approximately five seconds. Afterward, the victim perceives an afterimage that impairs their aim. The sheer volume of the detonation also causes temporary deafness in the victim and also disturbs the fluid in the ear, causing a loss of balance. Despite the nonlethal intentions behind the grenade, the resulting concussive blast still has the ability to cause injuries, and the heat created has been known to ignite flammable materials. The fires that occurred during the Iranian Embassy siege in London were caused by stun grenades coming into contact with flammable objects.

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