Yup. I was visiting Paris with my wife back in 1994. This was during the Paris Metro bombings by the Algerians and we were, of course, under the Clinton administrations do nothing on terrorism policy.
Anyway we were in the subway (Metro) deep underground when we started to choke and cough. All at once I heard some French cops start to yell “Alors, alors!” and run up the down escalators. Gas!
I grabbed my wife and ran after the cops. When we reached the first flight a sergeant made them go back down. It was only mace. Someone had opened up a can of mace.
Still, I wasn’t taking any chances. Those cops looked scared, and I figured being French and all, they knew were to go to safety!
Yep. You’ve got good survival instincts.