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France train shooting: What we know France train shooting: What we know
(about 2 hours later)
The French President Francois Hollande has praised the bravery of passengers on board a train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris who overpowered a gunman.The French President Francois Hollande has praised the bravery of passengers on board a train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris who overpowered a gunman.
Here's what we know about what happened.Here's what we know about what happened.
The drama took place on board a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris, via Brussels, on Friday afternoon.The drama took place on board a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris, via Brussels, on Friday afternoon.
The journey was apparently uneventful until the train, operated by Thalys, reached Oignies in northern France.The journey was apparently uneventful until the train, operated by Thalys, reached Oignies in northern France.
The French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said a French passenger in carriage 12 who was trying to access the toilets "was faced with an individual carrying a Kalashnikov rifle slung across his shoulder.The French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said a French passenger in carriage 12 who was trying to access the toilets "was faced with an individual carrying a Kalashnikov rifle slung across his shoulder.
"The French passenger bravely tried to bring him under control before the attacker fired several shots," Mr Cazeneuve said."The French passenger bravely tried to bring him under control before the attacker fired several shots," Mr Cazeneuve said.
"Two American passengers then intervened and managed to bring the attacker under control. Two American servicemen appear to have played a crucial role in bringing the situation under control - Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos.
"They immobilised him on the floor and took away his weapon." They were travelling with fellow American Anthony Sadler.
Anthony Sadler, the friend and travelling companion of the two American men who first overpowered the gunman, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos, told reporters what happened. He told reporters what happened when the gunman entered the aisle of their carriage.
"Alek just yells, 'Spencer, go!' And Spencer runs down the aisle," Mr Sadler said."Alek just yells, 'Spencer, go!' And Spencer runs down the aisle," Mr Sadler said.
"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.""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."
Mr Sadler also said that Mr Stone - despite having sustained injuries himself - then went to the aid of another passenger who was wounded in the throat and losing blood. All three men helped subdue him, trying him up with the help of British businessman Chris Norman.
Mr Sadler, a student, also said that Mr Stone - despite having sustained injuries himself - then went to the aid of another passenger who was wounded in the throat and losing blood.
Mr Stone is serving with the US Air Force and Mr Skarlatos is a US National Guardsman.Mr Stone is serving with the US Air Force and Mr Skarlatos is a US National Guardsman.
French anti-terror police are questioning the suspect, who was seized at Arras station. French anti-terror police are questioning a suspect, Ayoub El-Kahzzani, a 25-year-old Moroccan, who was seized at Arras station.
Mr Cazeneuve said that the gunman's identity had not been confirmed, but that he was thought to be a 26-year-old Moroccan who had been flagged up to France by the Spanish authorities as affiliated to a radical Islamist movement. Mr Cazeneuve said he had been living in Spain in 2014, and in Belgium in 2015.
The interior minister said he had been living in Spain in 2014, and in Belgium in 2015. The suspect was flagged up to France by the Spanish authorities as affiliated to a radical Islamist movement and may have travelled to Syria.
Spanish newspaper El Pais named the suspect as Ayoub El-Kahzzani, and said he had fought in Syria.
French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who injured his hand as he tried to activate the train's alarm, told Paris Match (in French) that members of train staff ran through his carriage (next to carriage 12 where the melee took place) to the guards' van at the end of the train.French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who injured his hand as he tried to activate the train's alarm, told Paris Match (in French) that members of train staff ran through his carriage (next to carriage 12 where the melee took place) to the guards' van at the end of the train.
They opened the door with a special key and locked themselves in, he alleged.They opened the door with a special key and locked themselves in, he alleged.
"We shouted for the staff to let us in, we yelled 'open!'", he said. "There was no response.""We shouted for the staff to let us in, we yelled 'open!'", he said. "There was no response."
However Agnes Ogier, the boss of Thalys, denied Mr Anglade's allegations, saying train staff "fulfilled their duties".However Agnes Ogier, the boss of Thalys, denied Mr Anglade's allegations, saying train staff "fulfilled their duties".
One member of staff found himself under fire and took five or six passengers with him into the baggage car, where he sounded the alarm, she said.One member of staff found himself under fire and took five or six passengers with him into the baggage car, where he sounded the alarm, she said.
Mr Stone was cut on the neck and hand. Another passenger was shot.Mr Stone was cut on the neck and hand. Another passenger was shot.
Both are recovering in hospital.Both are recovering in hospital.
The train was diverted to Arras, where the injured were taken to hospital.The train was diverted to Arras, where the injured were taken to hospital.
The other passengers were transported on to Paris later in the night where hotel rooms, taxis and psychological support were available to them, Thalys said.The other passengers were transported on to Paris later in the night where hotel rooms, taxis and psychological support were available to them, Thalys said.