The spray is a chemical substance designed to repel bear attacks, but it can also harm humans if they are exposed to it.
Questions about bear spray have emerged following the arrest of two men charged with assaulting a Capitol Police officer with a chemical substance on January 6, search trends show. Officer Brian Sicknick was sprayed during the riots and later died in hospital on January 7, though it has not been ascertained whether the spray—thought to have been bear spray—was the cause. Two other officers were also sprayed with the unknown substance and suffered injuries. The men charged with the attack, Julian Khater and George Tanios, made court appearances on Monday and remain in detention for future hearings. Bear spray is a chemical spray contained within a pressurized container and is intended to repel a bear attack. The spray contains a chemical agent called capsaicin, which is produced naturally in red peppers and gives them spice.
