Grenade-kicking Thai Policeman in stable condition

[Mackie]

No, grenades hurt. The truth heals!

No, grenades killed Thai soldiers and civilians who peacefully protested. The truth should finally heal you! Take a hard look at your own side.

"There will be blood on the streets if the government does not call off the dispersal operations. Our patience is running out. We will take more serious measures to retaliate. The dark sky will turn red, red like blood. "

Jatuporn Prompan, Red shirt leader, Bangkok, April 10, 2010.

Let's see how grenades actually kill people. But some posters here were celebrating death of innocent people back then. And justified it. Let's reverse it a bit. There are no knights in shiny white armours in this conflict. But one thing for sure, Thaksin is the dirties player ever. Nothing is sacred to him. Even his own family.

"A foreign photojournalist was behind army lines in Din So

Road when the soldiers were attacked by Black Shirts with

grenades and gunfire. He told Human Rights Watch:

[T]hey [the soldiers] got hit by a grenade. They fell back

and had injured with them, so to give cover to their

wounded they returned fire. The Black Shirts were ahead

of them, attacking…. I could see their fire incoming at

us…. The Black Shirts didn’t come to try and take

territory—they shoot and then they leave; they hit [the

soldiers] and retreat.

A period of relative calm and negotiations between the

government and UDD followed. However, violence continued

to flare. On April 22, for example, five M79-launched

grenades landed in a pro-government Yellow Shirt crowd,

killing a woman and wounding at least 78. On April 24 and

29, UDD security guards and protesters armed with

sharpened bamboo sticks stormed Chulalongkorn Hospital

in a search for soldiers"

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/thailand0511webwcover_0.pdf

Why are you selectively quoting from a Human Rights Watch report? It's a 162 page report that doesn't come down on one side or the other but does show a lot of wrongdoing by the army, such as for the killings at Wat Phatum Wanaram.

I'm not being selective. We're talking about hand grenades here. We're talking about how hand grenades not only hurt people, they kill people. And some people on this forum tried to justify that when it suited their dark agendas. As I said, there aren't any knights in shiny white armours in this conflict. The root of all evil in Thailand is in Dubai. Get it through your thick heads.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Mackie

[Halion]

Heroic or foolhardy act. It was what it was and it did take a moment of pure madness or heroism to try to kick this grenade away.

The grenade is purported to be a M67 type fragmentation grenade which comes with a M213 fuse system and well known to detonate less than 5 seconds from the point it leaves the throwers grasp.

From the observation of the myriad of both still and video clips I seriously doubt that this was in fact a M67 grenade as the blast nature, radius and apparent shock wave were truly of a minimal impact. A chair can be seen in the foreground lying on its back only a few meters away. This chair is in exactly the same position both pre and post blast which is highly unlikely when a M67 detonates in such close proximity. Furthermore the collateral damage within the blast radius fatal zone (5 meters) was also minimal.

As in so many of these incidents here in Thailand, the information is almost always poor and incomplete and the subsequent reporting becomes subjective and filled with supposition.

I truly hope this individual makes a speedy recovery from what can only be described as a minor miracle that he managed to survive.

[NomadJoe]

Not so sure as this is what a M67 explosion looks like and doesn't look to dissimilar. But as I mentioned, perhaps a M69 modified and loaded up.

I disagree Tywais. Considering how far away the explosions are in your video, I would say they are easily 10x the size of the one in Bangkok. The explosion extends several meters high. In the video from Bangkok the initial explosion doesn't even obscure the cops face. Had the grenade used in your video been used on the Bangkok cops, they would probably have all been eviscerated.

However looking at this the M67 seems more powerful than in the news video.

Keep in mind that in a confined space like that, the dynamics of an explosion completely change. Not sure this video has any value in this discussion.

[aussieinthailand]

not the smartest of the bunch... would his shield not have protected him ? or are they made from caraluminium or tin foil?

Another uninformed comment, it has already been stated that the required distance from a grenade is 3 meters, and that that would still not be completely safe as there was no time for this he attempted to kick the grenade to a safer distance to safeguard his friends, so even though maybe not the correct thing to do it was a selfless act of bravery on his part no matter how you want to spin it, as for now all those saying the police threw the grenade were are you now that another angel video show no police in front of these police and that they threw the grenade,,,

so your claims are completely rubbish, c'mon have the guts to put your hands up and say just how wrong you are... GUTTLESS

[BlueNoseCodger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH7L48rxu0A

The more I watch the video of the explosion and read of how relatively minor the injuries are considering the proximity, the more it looks to me like a concussion grenade. Concussion grenades still have a fatality radius of 2m, but kill with explosive power alone, not with fragmentation. The injuries are defiantly more consistent with a concussion grenade.

I think the video speaks for itself really.

[seajae]

The article only states that it was suspected to be a M67 model grenade. So it could of been another device hence the damage may not of been as expected of an M67.

A screenshot zoomed in of the video that I posted earlier in another topic. Not really much doubt about it being either a M67 or M69 (training grenade) modified. Green is the norm for M67.

post-566-0-06490400-1392745473.jpg

beauty, and the white markings confirm it is not high exlosive, more like an empty, just the detanator/fuse, why no one was killed and small balst radius

Not so sure as this is what a M67 explosion looks like and doesn't look to dissimilar. But as I mentioned, perhaps a M69 modified and loaded up.

However looking at this the M67 seems more powerful than in the news video.

and this also shows the yellow markings denoting the fact it is high explosive, the one used is not the same.

[captspectre]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

spoken like someone who has never been in combat or the military OR had a grenade thrown at him! it takes all kinds!

[Soutpeel]

As much as I am enjoying the "expert" EX-SAS, Navy Seal, Delta force comments on TV on subject of grenades...

Was shown an interesting photo taken from CNN footage by a Thai collegue today which is doing the rounds on Thai social media which appears to show that the grenade concerned was lobbed from the Police lines, landed on the canvas roof of the protesters tent, and rolled down and off the tent roof and rolls back toward the police line and the result of that you have seen

If true...nothing to do with the "Warload" Suthep and more to do with keystone cops that are the Thai police...

[Cricketnut]

I am sure there will be some that will criticize the police officers actions by lifting his shield to kick the grenade away, but the shield alone would not have stopped all the blast.

For me, K. Teeradet Ui-Charoen acted instinctively and bravely in the face of the danger that was before him, and should rightly be called a hero.

I don't believe what ever side your opinions are based, this officer of the law acted bravely into preventing injuries to his mates. Well done and a hopefully speedy recovery to all affected by this act.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Cricketnut]

Unfortunately after seeing this article on three separate western news channels and a video HERE TV, I made comment and was accused by a TV member of spreading lies and that it was the police threw the grenade not the protesters, there is video of the incident and you can see the grenade flying through the air, hit the police shield and the attempted kicking of it away, and the boot of the policeman flying backwards towards the rear rank of police, looking at the video you can see the direction the police are facing and the direction of the incoming grenade, so I wonder if the TV Suthep supporters STILL believe that a police rank would have had to be in front of the victim and stand up turn around and throw the grenade into the police rank behind them, or finally accept that so many of the protesters (not all) are most defiantly not "peaceful protesters" as so often proclaimed????????

I also wonder if the TV member has the stones (intestinal fortitude) to apologize for his accusation of me spreading lie's? I think not,

In Australia he would be called an Anzac hero in preventing injury or death to his fellow mates. Before anyone posts to an argument, think of what you WOULD do. I hope that I would have the same courage. No matter what side you support the officer of the law should be honoured and not condemned IMO of course.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[kikoman]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

Nothing worse than an yellow arm chair quarterback on the monday after a game!

There are more reasons than kicking that grenade that makes this man stand head and shoulders above other great men, If you have seen the video you would have seen him motion another policeman over to cover the exposed flank as the police man he motioned over barely set his shield in place when the grenade hit that policemans shield, it hit exactly in the area that was exposed.

Had he not directed that policeman to filled that exposed area the grenade would have landed in the mist of the huddled policemen at the rear of the line and it detonation would have hit the exposed backs of the complete shield line certainly many more fatalities would have happened.

Number two having had the opportunity of ducking a few grenades in my lifetime those riot shields are not great protection for anyone, I feel he took the best course of action available to him if he would have seen the danger a few seconds sooner he could have successfully kicked the grenade away but would still suffer injuries from the detonation. His acts were truly the acts of a hero,

Inspite of the comments from the peanut gallery!

Cheers

[kikoman]

The Nation, 2014-02-19

CMPO director Tarit was quoted as saying "PDRC leader Akanat Promphan had apologised for writing a statement for PDRC Leader Suthep Thaugsuban that distorted the truth,after acclaimed foreign media outlets like CNN and the BBC reported that the police had been attacked with M67s and M79s, causing them to retreat.".

Suthep got caught in a lie and this person took the shot for him, Just as I had reported on and gave the Source as CNN news Web.

Cheers

[nonthaburial]

Look,

There is clearly a few folks here who have NEVER seen nor thrown a fragmentation grenade (what it is REALLY called in the US military) - it is CLEARLY this type of grenade.

ANYONE who has served, even cooks, know better - those who claim otherwise probably cannot even tell you what a DD214 is (until they google it). White stripe - yellow stripe? Trick from the sunlight? Colorblindness? IRRELEVANT! i could paint a grenade to look like a tennis ball - it would do NOTHING to dampen or enhance the effects!

It is true there is a 5 second fuse on frag grenades (standard). But when 20 guys are huddled behind shields, in a chaotic area - they are lucky 1 cop spotted it!

Again, don't believe the idiots in this thread who bad mouth the cop and his efforts to try to kick away the grenade. They clearly have played too much counterstrike and never served their country - don't confuse their opinion as fact.

sorry but you are so far from the truth it is not funny, as I stated previously look at the white marking, this means it is a PRACTICE/UNFILLED grenade, not a frag grenade, any army trained person would be aware of this, the fact you do not even understand what the colour codes means or are for shows us all that you have never been trained with any explosive/live ammo in the forces as it is all colour coded so every man knows what they are handling, every single piece. You are simply googling crap and repeating it, you are definitely part of those few folks.

Totally agree and accept what you are trying to point out to the uninitiated , yes a white marked grenade does mean a training implement , and yes I am ex UK military and these color codings are standard within NATO. However would you agree that this was in fact not a training implement whilst having the force it did have ?

To be honest I don't give two shites about who threw it or did it have a nice lavender scent. Fact is it nearly maimed a serving officer, who in my opinion made a split decision to act to save his colleagues and take the pain himself. And that to me is heroic. End of

[SICHONSTEVE]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

Nothing worse than an yellow arm chair quarterback on the monday after a game!

There are more reasons than kicking that grenade that makes this man stand head and shoulders above other great men, If you have seen the video you would have seen him motion another policeman over to cover the exposed flank as the police man he motioned over barely set his shield in place when the grenade hit that policemans shield, it hit exactly in the area that was exposed.

Had he not directed that policeman to filled that exposed area the grenade would have landed in the mist of the huddled policemen at the rear of the line and it detonation would have hit the exposed backs of the complete shield line certainly many more fatalities would have happened.

Number two having had the opportunity of ducking a few grenades in my lifetime those riot shields are not great protection for anyone, I feel he took the best course of action available to him if he would have seen the danger a few seconds sooner he could have successfully kicked the grenade away but would still suffer injuries from the detonation. His acts were truly the acts of a hero,

Inspite of the comments from the peanut gallery!

Cheers

The way that I see it is this policeman saw this object in front of him and thought that looks dangerous I don't want it any where near me so I think I'll hoof it some where else.

I can't fathom any bravery in this no matter how I look upon it!! just sheer panic - and do the wrong thing, simple as that.

[philw]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

Nothing worse than an yellow arm chair quarterback on the monday after a game!

There are more reasons than kicking that grenade that makes this man stand head and shoulders above other great men, If you have seen the video you would have seen him motion another policeman over to cover the exposed flank as the police man he motioned over barely set his shield in place when the grenade hit that policemans shield, it hit exactly in the area that was exposed.

Had he not directed that policeman to filled that exposed area the grenade would have landed in the mist of the huddled policemen at the rear of the line and it detonation would have hit the exposed backs of the complete shield line certainly many more fatalities would have happened.

Number two having had the opportunity of ducking a few grenades in my lifetime those riot shields are not great protection for anyone, I feel he took the best course of action available to him if he would have seen the danger a few seconds sooner he could have successfully kicked the grenade away but would still suffer injuries from the detonation. His acts were truly the acts of a hero,

Inspite of the comments from the peanut gallery!

Cheers

Yes, KK absolutely spot on.

A very brave cop doing the right thing.

[Mackie]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

While I acknowledge we can't be too critical of a person in a life or death situation having to make snap decisions in a matter of 2-3 seconds, but I agree, he did not take the correct action. But, having used both riot and ballistic shields and grenades before, I will say that one bit of information which is unknown to us here is exactly what kind of shields they are using. There are ballistic shields, non-ballistic riot shields, and semi-ballistic riot shields (handgun and shotgun round resistant). You can tell from the videos and photos that they definitely aren't using full ballistic shields, nor would they be, but it is very possible that they are semi-ballistic shields which still would protect the user from much if not all the fragmentation from an M67 grenade. M67 fragmentation travels relativity slowly, closer to the speed of a handgun round, and is oddly shaped. My theory they are using semi-ballistic shields is evidenced by that fact that M67's have a kill radius of 5m, yet despite there being several officers within the kill radius, none were killed. Even officer "hero" who was 0m from it survived and with limbs intact. His body armor certainly contributed to that. His shield, if semi-ballistic, certainly more so. If he had a fully ballistic shield (which he didn't)and broke ranks to kick the grenade, that would have been a major breach of protocol and in the military would warrant a court martial. Police are trained in this kind of thing, and he should have known better.

Refer to Joe's post. Educate yourselves a bit. Especially drunkards who've mistaken a couple of can of beer thrown at them by their wives for hand grenades and started ducking.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Mackie