Posted on Aug 21, 2015
60
60
0
Unarmed US service members take down Kalashnikov-wielding gunman onboard a high-speed train between Amsterdam and Paris.
--
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
0
0
0
The (not so) funny thing is that, since the terror attacks in January, France has been put in Vigipirate Alerte Attentat (~DEFCON 2; military is deployed within cities to protect religious facilities, newsrooms, etc..) to prevent another drama. However, the leak came from out-of-state, since the TGV (high-speed train) was coming from Amsterdam.
And even worse, the perpetrator was known by French Homeland security (DGSI), like most of previous terrorists that had committed terror attacks within the l last couple years.
French soldiers doing guard duties felt they were pretty useless, I am wondering what's their opinion now..
Anyway, glad Americans had enough courage to handle the situation, while train workers ran their way inside the safe room..
And even worse, the perpetrator was known by French Homeland security (DGSI), like most of previous terrorists that had committed terror attacks within the l last couple years.
French soldiers doing guard duties felt they were pretty useless, I am wondering what's their opinion now..
Anyway, glad Americans had enough courage to handle the situation, while train workers ran their way inside the safe room..
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Yes, they did the right thing. By doing so they save many lives. Also there training kick in.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
The soldier should face UCMJ action for having a beard while on leave. JK LOL
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
If they wouldve been Starfleet personnel the attack wouldve never been happened
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
There were six persons directly involved or physically engaging the terrorist, four were civilians, only two were US Service Members Airman Stone, USAF-AD, who apparently is in a medical MOS of some type, and Oregon National Guardsman Infantry MOS Specialist Alek Skarlatos. One of the four civilians is still an unidentified French Citizen who is still in the hospital recovering from his injuries, and has apparently asked to be kept anonymous. The only other civilian wounded during the attack and the subduing of the terrorist is a dual-national US Citizen at birth, and French Citizen, College Professor Mark Moogalian. Please pray for him. He took a 9mm bullet in the neck, and is still in the hospital fighting to live. Last night he was reported to have worsened in condition, today a little better. He was the downed civilian that Airman Stone gave first aid to to stop the bleeding from his neck, despite his own serious injuries. He is probably fighting septicemia (blood poisoning) from his wound with Anti-biotics, or organ failure, after having loss so much blood. Mark Moogolian (who CNN says was the first to grapple with the Terrorist) and the as yet unnamed French Civilian were the first two passengers to grapple with the Terrorist and gave the three Americans and the British Citizen Chris Norman the time and space they needed to make their move. BTW the French Prosecutor has opened a preliminary terrorism investigation into the attack. I wonder if that meets the requirement for a Terrorist incident that would qualify the two US Service Members for a US Military Heroism Award, like the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross or Purple Heart in Airman Stone's situation?
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
It was two American civilians and two American military men. The first Civilian snatched the AK from the shooter, but was shot by the shooter who also had a handgun, his actions made it possible for the other three to take the shooter down.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
This is from a blog in "This Ain't Hell". It's well written and conveys how I think all of us feel about those brave men.
American exceptionalism
Jonn Lilyea | August 23, 2015
The world seems to be in awe of the three Americans who tackled Moroccan Ayoub el-Khazzani on a train the other day and beat him to within an inch of his life in order to subdue the heavily armed, but poorly trained, terrorist. People in this country are rightly proud of U.S. Airman Spencer Stone and National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and their friend, Anthony Sadler, a student who answered the call to action in order to protect hundreds of people they didn’t know.
The whole incident is a metaphor for the war against terror. Government does it’s best to protect the people from the animals with gun-control laws, no-travel lists, and general law enforcement, but the war against terror is actually fought in the streets, in strip malls, in the delis, in the train cars around the world by common citizenry – the targets of terrorism. Laws don’t hinder the lawless.
We’re constantly told how American gun laws aren’t consistent with the laws of the rest of the “civilized world” – that here are too many privately-owned weapons in the hands of citizens. However, the “civilized world” is the major target of the creatures who flaunt laws to spread their terror. Much the way that the terrorists who do succeed to terrorize us in this country target “gun free zones”, our mini-civilized areas.
I lived in Europe for nine years in the 80s, and I got the feeling that Europeans accepted terrorism as a part of their life. In Paris, when we visited, the tour guide warned us that ten bombs went off in the city every day, on the average. We went in a department store and had to go through metal detectors and have our packages searched, you know like we do now in our government buildings these days.
The Europeans stood by wringing their hands in the 90s when the Serbs were murdering Bosnians and Kosovars waiting for the Americans to take the lead. This administration stepped aside to give the Europeans a chance to lead in Libya and Syria in this decade – to tragic results.
Those same Europeans were expecting their governments to protect them on that train the other day, too, but somehow, law enforcement failed. El-Khazzani circumvented several laws written to protect the law-abiding people to smuggle those weapons on a train. He was also on 3 government “watch lists” but he wasn’t being watched. He had recently traveled to Syria for training, but he had apparently slept through the classes on weapon maintenance and his immediate action drills. Luckily.
Americans are criticized for being cowboys, but it’s always Americans who step into the breach. While I agree that we shouldn’t have to be the policemen of the world, but, in the words of Ronald Reagan, if not us, who?
American exceptionalism
Jonn Lilyea | August 23, 2015
The world seems to be in awe of the three Americans who tackled Moroccan Ayoub el-Khazzani on a train the other day and beat him to within an inch of his life in order to subdue the heavily armed, but poorly trained, terrorist. People in this country are rightly proud of U.S. Airman Spencer Stone and National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and their friend, Anthony Sadler, a student who answered the call to action in order to protect hundreds of people they didn’t know.
The whole incident is a metaphor for the war against terror. Government does it’s best to protect the people from the animals with gun-control laws, no-travel lists, and general law enforcement, but the war against terror is actually fought in the streets, in strip malls, in the delis, in the train cars around the world by common citizenry – the targets of terrorism. Laws don’t hinder the lawless.
We’re constantly told how American gun laws aren’t consistent with the laws of the rest of the “civilized world” – that here are too many privately-owned weapons in the hands of citizens. However, the “civilized world” is the major target of the creatures who flaunt laws to spread their terror. Much the way that the terrorists who do succeed to terrorize us in this country target “gun free zones”, our mini-civilized areas.
I lived in Europe for nine years in the 80s, and I got the feeling that Europeans accepted terrorism as a part of their life. In Paris, when we visited, the tour guide warned us that ten bombs went off in the city every day, on the average. We went in a department store and had to go through metal detectors and have our packages searched, you know like we do now in our government buildings these days.
The Europeans stood by wringing their hands in the 90s when the Serbs were murdering Bosnians and Kosovars waiting for the Americans to take the lead. This administration stepped aside to give the Europeans a chance to lead in Libya and Syria in this decade – to tragic results.
Those same Europeans were expecting their governments to protect them on that train the other day, too, but somehow, law enforcement failed. El-Khazzani circumvented several laws written to protect the law-abiding people to smuggle those weapons on a train. He was also on 3 government “watch lists” but he wasn’t being watched. He had recently traveled to Syria for training, but he had apparently slept through the classes on weapon maintenance and his immediate action drills. Luckily.
Americans are criticized for being cowboys, but it’s always Americans who step into the breach. While I agree that we shouldn’t have to be the policemen of the world, but, in the words of Ronald Reagan, if not us, who?
(0)
(0)
Sgt Kelli Mays
I think they are HEROS! They reacted quickly and thwarted something horrible from happening.
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
I applaud and thank our service men for an outstanding job, but the Article said it was an Airman and a National Guardsman. I didn't see any mention of any US Marine. I guess Europe countries think all US Servicemen are Marines? Or did I miss something in the article?
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I was in Europe tor 2 tours during the Cold War. Terrorists were everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. These men just did their job. So, they get a call from the prez for doing what they are trained to do. big deal. What is the attention all about? It used to all in a days work and was classified.
(0)
(0)
MSgt (Join to see)
Seriously? They didn't have to do anything. How many terrorists did you take down? Calm down there Cold War Ultimate Warrior.
(1)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Sounds like some jealousy, or being ignorant as to what they accomplished. We finally have a great post, everyone is enjoying, and two comments are negative. Hard to understand.
(0)
(0)
SSG(P) D. Wright Downs
Didn't mean to be negative. I just thought it was what their training involved. I am glad they were not seriously injured. They acted quickly and did a great job. They were on vacation and they were vigilant. that is how people have to be. Like I said, they were doing what they were trained to do. I guess I was sarcastic. That was bad. Sorry. These men did do a a great job--just what they were trained to do. I was the victim of the bad guys. Can't talk about the things. Ultimate warrior, hell. I learned from the lesson, though. Take good meds, too.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I love how the news always get the 9 mm pistols, automatic so right, all the time
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google