Two American servicemen were among the passengers who overpowered an armed attacker on a Thalys high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday, averting what officials said was an attempted terrorist attack.
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Stone then turned to help the injured passenger.
But he added: “If the identity he has declared is confirmed, he is a 26-year-old man of Moroccan nationality identified by the Spanish authorities to French intelligence services in February 2014 because of his connections to the radical Islamist movement”.
Besides the Kalashnikov assault rifle and an automatic pistol, the gunman was carrying nine cartridge clips and a box-cutter, which he reportedly sliced one of the American man with during the struggle.
But the attack was quickly stopped when three Americans – including two off-duty soldiers – charged the gunman and overpowered him.
“I got the handgun away from the guy and threw it, and then I grabbed the AK (47) which was at his feet”.
“Once in France he went to Syria, then returned to France”, the source said.
“Alek and Spencer, they’re big, brave, strong guys and they decided they were going to tackle him”. My point of view was that two guys had already started attacking him so maybe they needed some help and it was purely survival.
Their friend, US student Anthony Sadler, told French TV the attacker “didn’t stand a chance”.
“He didn’t say anything”. He was just telling us to give back his gun.
“I am just beginning to realize what we did”.
“I’d rather die being active”, he said.
Norman said he tied up the gunman with a tie while Stone, though suffering knife wounds, attended to another injured passenger. He was admitted in critical condition with neck wounds, but most media accounts suggest that he is expected to pull through.
Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande has thanked the three American men hailed as heroes for overpowering the suspect. “Without his help, he would have died”. “I don’t know why he didn’t manage to fire but I think it’s because his weapon jammed”, he said.
The suspect was arrested in Arras, France, on Friday, and was transferred to police headquarters outside of Paris on Saturday.
“If anybody is a hero, it is pretty much Spencer”, Sadler said.
The third American, college student Anthony Sadler, said “I came to see my friends for my first trip to Europe and we stop a terrorist. It’s kind of insane”.
“It is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy”, Obama said in a statement.
Analysts said it was not surprising someone could launch an attack even though he was on a watch-list.
“It’s a very resource-intensive job to watch someone 24 hours a day”.
“It took bravery. It took instinct – just survival instinct”, Emanuel said.
French authorities have been on high alert since January, when 17 people were killed in shootings by Islamist militants in and around Paris.
Mr Stone has now been discharged from hospital and has joined his countrymen in Arras.
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He was being interviewed by French counter-terrorism officials Saturday, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.
