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France train shooting: Americans overpower gunman | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three people have been hurt after a heavily armed man opened fire on a train in northern France, before being overpowered by two American passengers. | |
The incident happened on the high-speed Thalys service near Arras, and the attacker was arrested at Arras station. | The incident happened on the high-speed Thalys service near Arras, and the attacker was arrested at Arras station. |
The interior minister praised the Americans, one of whom was seriously injured, as was another passenger. | |
The man arrested was a 26-year-old Moroccan. Anti-terrorist officers have taken over the case. | The man arrested was a 26-year-old Moroccan. Anti-terrorist officers have taken over the case. |
The weapons were said to include a Kalashnikov, a knife, an automatic pistol and cartridges. | The weapons were said to include a Kalashnikov, a knife, an automatic pistol and cartridges. |
One of the two people seriously hurt had a gunshot wound, the other a knife wound. | One of the two people seriously hurt had a gunshot wound, the other a knife wound. |
French media said the arrested man was known to the intelligence services. The suspect has so far refused to talk to police in Arras. | French media said the arrested man was known to the intelligence services. The suspect has so far refused to talk to police in Arras. |
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the incident was a "terrorist attack". | Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the incident was a "terrorist attack". |
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve travelled to Arras in the wake of the attack. | French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve travelled to Arras in the wake of the attack. |
He said: "As always where an act that could be terrorist in nature is involved, the greatest care and the greatest precision will be used." | |
He praised the Americans who overpowered the suspect. | He praised the Americans who overpowered the suspect. |
Mr Cazeneuve said they were "particularly courageous and showed great bravery in very difficult circumstances", adding: "Without their composure we could have been confronted with a terrible incident." | |
French media said the passengers who overpowered the suspect were US Marines who had heard the man loading a weapon in a toilet cubicle and confronted him when he came out. | |
Mr Cazeneuve said the attack had taken place at 17:45 local time (15:45 GMT). | |
Mr Cazeneuve said he had also met French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who was lightly wounded when breaking glass to sound the alarm, and other passengers. | |
"My thoughts are with the wounded and with the passengers who are in a state of shock," Mr Cazeneuve said. | "My thoughts are with the wounded and with the passengers who are in a state of shock," Mr Cazeneuve said. |
'Under control' | 'Under control' |
Initial reports suggested the second person seriously hurt was a Briton, but the UK Foreign Office later said there were no reports that British nationals were hurt. | |
Images shared on social media appeared to show a man being restrained on the station platform in Arras. | Images shared on social media appeared to show a man being restrained on the station platform in Arras. |
One photograph showed an injured man in a blue top and jeans lying on the floor of the train. | One photograph showed an injured man in a blue top and jeans lying on the floor of the train. |
French rail firm SNCF said there had been 554 people on board the train. | |
"The situation is under control, the travellers are safe. The train stopped and the emergency services are on site," the Thalys official Twitter account tweeted. | "The situation is under control, the travellers are safe. The train stopped and the emergency services are on site," the Thalys official Twitter account tweeted. |
Thalys said several trains had been delayed in the wake of the attack. | Thalys said several trains had been delayed in the wake of the attack. |
France has been on edge since the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January, which left 17 people dead. | France has been on edge since the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January, which left 17 people dead. |
And in June a man said to be inspired by the Islamic State group beheaded his boss and tried to blow up a gas plant in southern France. | And in June a man said to be inspired by the Islamic State group beheaded his boss and tried to blow up a gas plant in southern France. |