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France train shooting: Americans overpower gunman | France train shooting: Americans overpower gunman |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Three people have been hurt after a heavily armed man opened fire on a train in northern France, before being overpowered by 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. |
US President Barack Obama praised the passengers, who included two off-duty US military personnel. | |
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. |
French authorities said three people were injured, two of them seriously - one with a gunshot wound, the other a knife wound. | |
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the attack took place at 17:45 local time (15:45 GMT) on Friday. | |
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. |
"The president expressed his profound gratitude for the courage and quick thinking of several passengers, including US service members, who selflessly subdued the attacker," the White House said in a statement. | |
"It is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy." | |
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called the incident a "terrorist attack". | |
The passengers included French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade who was lightly wounded breaking glass to sound the alarm, and Chris Norman, a British man living in France. | |
He and two other men from the US were awarded medals for bravery at a restaurant in Arras, Reuters reported. | |
Mr Cazeneuve said the passengers 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. | 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. |
Social worker Christina Coons from New York was on the train and told BBC Radio 5 Live she had ducked under her seat when she heard shots. | |
She said she saw a man running through her carriage bleeding heavily from the neck who identified himself as a paramedic. | |
She said: "None of these men were in uniform. They were just regular passengers, this afternoon, who stepped up to the plate as soon as they saw what was happening." | |
'Under control' | 'Under control' |
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. | French rail firm SNCF said there had been 554 people on board the train. |
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. |
Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |