He may have meant tear gas, which isn’t pleasant but not a gas with which to commit genocide. Tear gas is often used for riot control which is what the article was about. Let us both hope I am right. :)
You know, I didn’t even think of tear gas. I sure hope you’re right. When I read what he said my mind screamed out “NAZI SCUM!!!”. Well, it wasn’t quite that clean, but you get the picture. (o: