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
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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
France
Terrorism
Trains
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 98
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Just saw this on the news. This is how we set an example to the world. Great job to these Service members.
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I hope the Marine who was "shot in the neck" makes a full recovery. Thankfully these men were able to stop this person from his desire to kill innocent civilians.
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Sorry sir. I did not know you had started a subject on this. These guys are great.
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Semper Fidelis Airman, Soldier and civilian, well done! I wish them all speedy recovery and appropriate medals for their valor and wounds.
The Airman and National Guardsman in particular need real medals out of this.
The Airman and National Guardsman in particular need real medals out of this.
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Capt Lance Gallardo
Capt Porter-the Legion of Honor IS a real medal-It is the highest decoration the Republic of France can bestow on any person, French Citizen or otherwise. It is their version of our Medal of Honor, except that it can be awarded to civilians and is not limited to Combat Heroism. Yes, I agree that the Airman Spencer Stone and National Guardsman Infantry SPC Alek Skarlatos should be considered for a US Military decoration or award for their heroism in thwarting a terrible Terrorist Attack against civilians. The Global War on Terror means that any US Service member anywhere (even at home) and at anytime may be called to act, off duty on duty, it makes no difference. The "Front" in this War is wherever you happen to be at the time a terrorist decides to attack the US or its allies such as this incident in France and Belgium. I cannot see the Army National Gaurd or the US Airforce awarding less than the Silver Star for each of these Heroes assuming they qualify for such a combat decoration. Airman Stone who was first in, acted with special heroism in that he undoubtedly would have been shot and killed or shot an incapacitated had the terrorist weapon either not have malfunctioned (a Fully Automatic AK-47) or the terrorist had been better trained to clear malfunctions or better trained to employ his weapon in general. In addition to that, Airman Stone apparently had some kind of advanced medical training/paramedic training that he employed to stop the bleeding of Mark Moogalian a Dual national US/French Citizen wounded civilian who was suffering from a Gunshot Wound to the neck, DESPITE his own Severe wounds received while subduing the terrorist. In My humble opinion, that puts his actions in Airforce Cross /Army Cross/Navy Cross or Medal of Honor territory from my own understanding of the criteria for such awards. He refused to seek medical aid himself despite being severely wounded and instead focused on a saving the life of a seriously wounded Mark Moogalian, 51, a French-American, who was apparently was bleeding out from the neck. He continued his treatment of the US/French Civilian Mark Moogalian gunshot wound to the neck until he had located the bleeding artery with his finger and applied pressure to stop the bleeding, ignoring his own serious wounds, until relieved by French Paramedics/Emergency personnel First Responders.
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Capt Richard I P.
Capt Lance Gallardo to be fair when I posted that, they had not yet been presented that award. They had only been presented an award from the city that the train was in.
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Capt Lance Gallardo
I wasn't sure if you were dissing the French Legion of Honor, thanks for clearing that up.
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I've read several of the articles running the headlines this a.m., and all I can say, is that is some true-blue, John Wayne style, heroism on the part of these Americans! I am wondering if anyone can add some clarity to the question of who these personnel were; I've read it was an Airman, Guardsman and a university student, but have also heard that a Brit and Marines were involved. Hope that whomever and wherever they were from, these guys get the credit they deserve.
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With all due respect to my Marine friends, let's get this clear, it was an Airman, an Army National Guard soldier and a civllian. Let's give proper credit where it's due please.
I think they did a hell of a job and I'm proud of them for standing up and doing the right thing.
TSgt Joshua Copeland, CW3 (Join to see), SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"
I think they did a hell of a job and I'm proud of them for standing up and doing the right thing.
TSgt Joshua Copeland, CW3 (Join to see), SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"
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MSgt Donald G. I think this is great! In Europe, in France no less, and thwarted a terrorist attack. To paraphrase President Theodore Roosevelt, Decorate them, decorate them all.
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CDR (Join to see)
Wholeheartedly agree! In addition the Legion of Honor given to them by the French, I'd recommend them for, at a minimum, Service-specific Commendation Medal with Combat V and a spot promotion!
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