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France train shooting: Americans who overpowered gunman 'heroes' France train shooting: Americans who overpowered gunman 'heroes'
(about 1 hour later)
Three American men are being hailed as heroes for overpowering a heavily-armed gunman on a train in northern France.Three American men are being hailed as heroes for overpowering a heavily-armed gunman on a train in northern France.
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. One of the Americans said they took an AK-47 assault rifle and a handgun from the attacker as they saw him walk down the aisle of the train.
The man arrested was a 26-year-old Moroccan. Anti-terrorist officers have taken over the case. They then put him in a chokehold until he was unconscious. A 26-year-old Moroccan was later arrested.
The gunman's 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 but he has so far refused to talk to police in Arras.
Two of the American men who overpowered the gunman, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos, are members of the Air Force and the National Guard respectively.Two of the American men who overpowered the gunman, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos, are members of the Air Force and the National Guard respectively.
Their friend, Anthony Sadler, was travelling with them and described the scene. They were travelling with a childhood friend, Anthony Sadler, who also helped restrain the attacker.
"As he was cocking it to shoot it, Alek just yells, `Spencer, go!' And Spencer runs down the aisle." "Spencer got to the guy first and grabbed the guy by the neck," Mr Skarlatos told Sky News.
"Spencer makes first contact, he tackles the guy, Alek wrestles the gun away from him, and the gunman pulls out a box cutter and slices Spencer a few times. And the three of us beat him until he was unconscious." "I grabbed the handgun, got that away from the guy and threw it. Then I grabbed the AK-47, which was at his feet, and started muzzle-bumping him in the head with it.
'Just regular passengers' "Everybody just started beating the guy while Spencer held the chokehold until he went unconscious."
When he checked the AK-47, Mr Skarlotos said it had jammed and would not have been able to fire. The cartridge for the handgun had also been dropped, he said.
French authorities said three people were injured, two of them seriously - one with a gunshot wound, the other a knife wound.
Chris Norman, a British man living in France, was also hurt while trying to subdue the attacker.Chris Norman, a British man living in France, was also hurt while trying to subdue the attacker.
"I came in at the end of it all and helped get him under control," he said at a news conference in Arras."I came in at the end of it all and helped get him under control," he said at a news conference in Arras.
"The guy pulled out a cutter and started cutting Spencer - he cut behind his neck and nearly cut his thumb off.""The guy pulled out a cutter and started cutting Spencer - he cut behind his neck and nearly cut his thumb off."
Spencer Stone remains in hospital. Another man, who has not been identified, suffered severe cuts to his neck. Spencer Stone went to help him despite his own injuries. Mr Stone remains in hospital.
Social worker Christina Coons from New York told BBC Radio 5 Live she ducked under her seat when she heard shots. "I'm really proud of my friend that he just reacted so quickly and so bravely," Anthony Sadler said.
"He was really the first one over there. Even after being injured himself, he went to go help the other man who was bleeding also. Without his help, he would have died.
"That man was bleeding from his neck profusely."
Social worker Christina Coons from New York was one of the 554 people on board. She told BBC Radio 5 Live she ducked under her seat when she heard shots.
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."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."
The passengers included French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, the star of Betty Blue and Nikita, who was lightly wounded breaking glass to sound the alarm.The passengers included French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, the star of Betty Blue and Nikita, who was lightly wounded breaking glass to sound the alarm.
The American men and Mr Norman were awarded medals for bravery by authorities in Arras.The American men and Mr Norman were awarded medals for bravery by authorities in Arras.
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." US President Barack Obama was among those to praise those who took action.
"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."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.""It is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy."
French Interior Minister Bernard 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."
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called the incident a "terrorist attack".Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called the incident a "terrorist attack".
Images shared on social media appeared to show a man being restrained on the station platform in Arras. French media said the arrested man was known to the intelligence services but he has so far refused to talk to police in Arras.
One photograph showed an injured man in a blue top and jeans lying on the floor of the train. Images shared on social media appeared to show him being restrained on the station platform in Arras.
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.
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.
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