Posted on Aug 21, 2015
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Unarmed US service members take down Kalashnikov-wielding gunman onboard a high-speed train between Amsterdam and Paris.
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A group of unarmed US service members on board a high-speed train between Amsterdam and Paris foiled a terrorist attack after a gunman opened fire with an assault rifle, wounding three people.
The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire. Fortunately, two US service members were nearby and overpowered him before he could massacre passengers.
The suspected terrorist had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 200 rounds. He was also carrying a knife.
Unfortunately, one of the service members was shot and is believed to be in a critical condition.
Speaking in Arras, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve praised the service members for their timely intervention.
He said: 'Thanks to them we have averted a drama.
'(The Americans were) particularly courageous and showed extreme bravery in extremely difficult circumstances.'
The man was arrested by police near the town of Arras in northern France.
Train company Thalys confirmed the incident happened. A spokesman said: 'The situation is under control, the travellers are safe. The train stopped and the emergency services are on site.'
No one at the SNCF French railways was immediately available to comment on the report.
A report on Twitter said that three US service members detained the gunman until emergency services arrived.
The incident happened at approximately 6pm local time.
French newspaper Le Monde is reporting that one Briton may be among the injured.
The motives behind the attack were not immediately known, although a spokesman for the interior minister said: 'It is too early to speak of a terrorist link'.
The incident happened approximately 115 miles north of Paris near the town of Arras
Investigators from France's special anti-terror police are leading the investigation, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor's office said.
Two of the victims are in a critical condition. The suspect is a 26-year-old Moroccan, said Sliman Hamzi, an official with police union Alliance.
A spokesman for the French state rail company SNCF said that the assailant was armed with guns and knives but gave no further details about the attack.
An American and a Briton were reportedly among those injured.
The gunman was arrested after the train pulled into the station in the northern French town of Arras, the SNCF spokesman told AFP.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve arrived at the scene in Arras in the wake of the incident, which occurred shortly after 6pm local time.
His spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet confirmed to AFP that a man had opened fire on the train but said that at this stage "we do not know his motives".
The French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who appeared in the 1986 cult film 'Betty Blue' staring Beatrice Dalle, was lightly injured. It is understood he cut his hand while breaking the glass on the emergency alarm.
Anglade also played the hard-nosed cop Eddy Caplan in the gritty French crime drama Braquo.
Thalys said on its website that several trains had been delayed after the 'intervention of security forces at Arras station'.
'The train is at the station and emergency services are at the scene,' said Thalys, which is jointly owned by the national rail companies of Belgium, France and Germany.
France remains on edge after Islamic extremists attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January.
In June, a man beheaded his boss and tried to blow up a gas plant in southern France in what prosecutors say was an attack inspired by ISIS.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'We are aware of reports of shots being fired on a train in France.
'The French authorities have responded, we are in contact with them and are urgently seeking more information.'
Interior ministry spokesman Pierre Henry Brandet said: ‘A man opened fire on this Thalys train between Amsterdam and Paris, one person was very seriously injured. Talking about a terrorist motive would be premature at the moment.’
Francois Hollande, the French president, has said: ‘I express my solidarity with the wounded from the attack on the train from Amsterdam to Paris. Everything is being done to shed light on this tragedy.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3206426/U-S-Marines-armed-gunman-onboard-high-speed-train-Amsterdam-Paris.html
--
A group of unarmed US service members on board a high-speed train between Amsterdam and Paris foiled a terrorist attack after a gunman opened fire with an assault rifle, wounding three people.
The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire. Fortunately, two US service members were nearby and overpowered him before he could massacre passengers.
The suspected terrorist had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 200 rounds. He was also carrying a knife.
Unfortunately, one of the service members was shot and is believed to be in a critical condition.
Speaking in Arras, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve praised the service members for their timely intervention.
He said: 'Thanks to them we have averted a drama.
'(The Americans were) particularly courageous and showed extreme bravery in extremely difficult circumstances.'
The man was arrested by police near the town of Arras in northern France.
Train company Thalys confirmed the incident happened. A spokesman said: 'The situation is under control, the travellers are safe. The train stopped and the emergency services are on site.'
No one at the SNCF French railways was immediately available to comment on the report.
A report on Twitter said that three US service members detained the gunman until emergency services arrived.
The incident happened at approximately 6pm local time.
French newspaper Le Monde is reporting that one Briton may be among the injured.
The motives behind the attack were not immediately known, although a spokesman for the interior minister said: 'It is too early to speak of a terrorist link'.
The incident happened approximately 115 miles north of Paris near the town of Arras
Investigators from France's special anti-terror police are leading the investigation, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor's office said.
Two of the victims are in a critical condition. The suspect is a 26-year-old Moroccan, said Sliman Hamzi, an official with police union Alliance.
A spokesman for the French state rail company SNCF said that the assailant was armed with guns and knives but gave no further details about the attack.
An American and a Briton were reportedly among those injured.
The gunman was arrested after the train pulled into the station in the northern French town of Arras, the SNCF spokesman told AFP.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve arrived at the scene in Arras in the wake of the incident, which occurred shortly after 6pm local time.
His spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet confirmed to AFP that a man had opened fire on the train but said that at this stage "we do not know his motives".
The French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who appeared in the 1986 cult film 'Betty Blue' staring Beatrice Dalle, was lightly injured. It is understood he cut his hand while breaking the glass on the emergency alarm.
Anglade also played the hard-nosed cop Eddy Caplan in the gritty French crime drama Braquo.
Thalys said on its website that several trains had been delayed after the 'intervention of security forces at Arras station'.
'The train is at the station and emergency services are at the scene,' said Thalys, which is jointly owned by the national rail companies of Belgium, France and Germany.
France remains on edge after Islamic extremists attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January.
In June, a man beheaded his boss and tried to blow up a gas plant in southern France in what prosecutors say was an attack inspired by ISIS.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'We are aware of reports of shots being fired on a train in France.
'The French authorities have responded, we are in contact with them and are urgently seeking more information.'
Interior ministry spokesman Pierre Henry Brandet said: ‘A man opened fire on this Thalys train between Amsterdam and Paris, one person was very seriously injured. Talking about a terrorist motive would be premature at the moment.’
Francois Hollande, the French president, has said: ‘I express my solidarity with the wounded from the attack on the train from Amsterdam to Paris. Everything is being done to shed light on this tragedy.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3206426/U-S-Marines-armed-gunman-onboard-high-speed-train-Amsterdam-Paris.html
France
Terrorism
Trains
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 98
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There's no such thing as unarmed US Marines. Just Marines without T/O weapons.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SSG (Join to see) Many of these posts were made before the information was updated and corrected. If you note, below, we give proper credit to the Airman & National Guardsmen by name.
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SSG (Join to see)
Noted. Realized that after I read more posts. SPC Skarlatos is in my BDE, just being over protective I guess.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SSG (Join to see) No worries. Everyone here at RP is proud of our guys. They did a great thing! As I mentioned below "finest traditions of the United States Naval Service!"
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SrA Zack Weber
SSG (Join to see) - SPC Skarlatos is from my hometown, A1C Stone is a member of my branch, its like a win all around.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
That is courage and love for humanity. Like my father always says, Good will always triumph over evil no matter what.
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I like the Canadian in the comments "Sometimes you just need an American or 3 around." hahah
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SN Greg Wright
SGT Jeremiah B. I particularly liked this one: "Hang on I don't get it. All we ever here (sic) is how awful Americans are, how selfish and rude!? When the world burns we all look west whether you like to admit it or not."
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SGT Jeremiah B.
SFC James Sczymanski - I first saw your comment and had no idea what you were talking about. haha I've had that happen a few times. They never answer and it never makes any sense.
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CPL Richard Flagg
Somebody dropped the ball and let this bad guy bring an AK onto that train. So much for "security" over there in Europe; how was that clown able to or even allowed to smuggle all those weapons aboard? I guess we're going to have to position Americans on all public transportation around the globe as a preemptive measure to combat such attacks in the future.
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Update:
The "Marines" were:
Airman Spencer Stone from Carmichael, California (injured with boxcutter)
& National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, from Roseburg, Oregon (childhood friend).
The initial reporting seems to have assumed guys anyone crazy enough to do this is a Marine. I think we need to send a letter to the Commandant and request Honorary Marine status for them, because frankly... they tackled a terrorist on a train, and as the saying go "finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
MSgt Donald G.
The "Marines" were:
Airman Spencer Stone from Carmichael, California (injured with boxcutter)
& National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, from Roseburg, Oregon (childhood friend).
The initial reporting seems to have assumed guys anyone crazy enough to do this is a Marine. I think we need to send a letter to the Commandant and request Honorary Marine status for them, because frankly... they tackled a terrorist on a train, and as the saying go "finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
MSgt Donald G.
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TSgt Melissa Post
As a fellow airman, I appreciate your giving credit where it is due. I know we all give each other a lot of crap but hey that is tradition. When it comes down to it though, we all know the Marines are the toughest of us all. To see one of yall ensure the proper branch is recognized, and to offer the "honorary Marine" title...man that really puts a smile on my face. I wish I was tough enough to be a Marine too... :) Thanks Sgt Kennedy!
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
TSgt Melissa Post The credit goes to these guys. They were in the right place at the right time to do the right thing. They deserve the recognition. The initial reporting was inaccurate. All I was doing was correcting "bum scoop" which travels infinitely faster than "good scoop." But they did lived up to Our (the US, RP's AND even France's) Idea of what a Marine is. If that doesn't deserve the Title, what does?
I don't know where I read it, but there was an old adage "If the Marine Corps didn't exist, it would have to be invented to fill the literary vacuum that it has created [sic]" These gentlemen are now part of that legend.
I don't know where I read it, but there was an old adage "If the Marine Corps didn't exist, it would have to be invented to fill the literary vacuum that it has created [sic]" These gentlemen are now part of that legend.
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1LT (Join to see)
I read somewhere a French journalist explaining why they were initially referred to as Marines. He explained that for most of them every American service member is a "Marine". It's like if you say "Marine" you mean the America military.
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In this crazy world, the Marines will be charged with assault w/ enhanced hate crime. Regardless of the man being armed and shooting, the town will riot and burn down their town and start looting because they are oppressed.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
MSG Brad Sand Doesn't that sound like some sort of corny joke? A terrorist, an Airman, a Civilian, and a National Guardsman board a train in France...
But I think you are correct.. he may have been "lucky."
"LCpl Schmucketelli, what happened to the terrorist?"
"He fell on his gun and shot himself, sir!"
"47 times?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Each magazine only holds 30 rounds."
"Well trained terrorist, sir. We were impressed with how well he did his mag swap."
But I think you are correct.. he may have been "lucky."
"LCpl Schmucketelli, what happened to the terrorist?"
"He fell on his gun and shot himself, sir!"
"47 times?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Each magazine only holds 30 rounds."
"Well trained terrorist, sir. We were impressed with how well he did his mag swap."
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MSG Brad Sand
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
I would be disappointed in their wasting so much ammo but I would be willing to listen to the story about why the terrorist had wrapped himself in bacon before he 'fell' on his own weapon.
I would be disappointed in their wasting so much ammo but I would be willing to listen to the story about why the terrorist had wrapped himself in bacon before he 'fell' on his own weapon.
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MSG Brad Sand
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
I am not against overkill, I am just against wasting ammo because there is never enough. Overkill is why you were not given one combat boot but a pair. If you can pull a trigger, you can stomp as well.
I am not against overkill, I am just against wasting ammo because there is never enough. Overkill is why you were not given one combat boot but a pair. If you can pull a trigger, you can stomp as well.
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It appears we have another case of bad reporting. Not to take anything away from our beloved devil dogs, but they are now reporting it was not the Marines, but the Air Force leading the charge. Regardless, it shows that if our military is in the area, they run towards the danger and show what our military is all about. Let's hope they didn't have an Ashley Madison account and don't get reamed for not wearing their reflective belts.
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MSgt Chris Adams
A little off subject, but the whole Ashley Madison thing reminds me of a story. Once, long ago, I processed paperwork for guys (and gals) getting booted out of the AF. Had one in the early days of multimedia porn...guy ran up about $4k in 1-900 call on a government phone.
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Capt Richard I P.
So it turns out the French remember the Marines so fondly that when any American military member save Frenchmen they assume it's Marines until proven otherwise. However, I insist on giving credit where it is due, and since the heroes were really Airman First Class Spencer Stone of the USAF, Alek Skarlatos (rank not given) of the Oregon National Guard and their friend Anthony Sadler of first CivDiv, with a little help at the end from Chris Norman, a British man living in France......
I will modify my original statement to:
"You're Welcome France....Again...."
-America
I will modify my original statement to:
"You're Welcome France....Again...."
-America
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SSG(P) D. Wright Downs
The 2 American servicemen are 23 years old---junior service men. The Army NG is a Spec 4. Their friend is also 23. I am an old DINFOS Trained Killer. No Senior personnel were involved.
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Allowed him to board the train with an AK47 by the French Police but was stopped by American Marines! Luckily for those on the train these professionals were there to stop the terrorist attack.
My prayers go out to the Marine and his family for a fast and full recovery!
My prayers go out to the Marine and his family for a fast and full recovery!
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SGT (Join to see)
What I enjoyed reading is that they beat the shit out of the guy. Hooray for them. He looked really good laying on the floor unconscious. I guess it's true that Europe is so used to terrorist attacks, they don't see one when it's staring them in the face.
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One Airman was injured but not life threatening. But they did prevent a massacre aboard this French train...
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