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France train shooting: What we know France train shooting: What we know
(1 day 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. French President Francois Hollande has announced the award of the country's highest award - the Legion d'honneur - to six passengers who tackled a suspected radical Islamist on board a train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris.
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, having just crossed from Belgium.
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 a toilet cubicle "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 unnamed French passenger tried to overpower the man.
Two American servicemen appear to have played a crucial role in bringing the situation under control - Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos. Seeing the struggle, 51-year-old French-American passenger Mark Moogalian also tried to intervene.
They were travelling with fellow American Anthony Sadler. But the gunmen fired several shots and Mr Moogalian was hit in the neck.
He told reporters what happened when the gunman entered the aisle of their carriage. Three American friends on a tour of Europe - off-duty military servicemen Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler - were also in the first class carriage.
They had initially been unable to find their first class reservations and had moved to this carriage to get a better internet connection. They were all sleeping when the commotion woke them.
Seeing the suspect had freed himself from the Frenchman who first tackled him, the Americans charged the gunman.
"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."
All three men helped subdue him, trying him up with the help of British businessman Chris Norman. Mr Stone was slashed in the neck and eyebrow with the box-cutter and had a thumb almost sliced off.
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 held the suspect in a chokehold and Mr Skarlatos hit him in the head with the butt of one of the weapons.
Mr Stone is serving with the US Air Force and Mr Skarlatos is a US National Guardsman. The three men tied him up with the help of British businessman Chris Norman.
French anti-terror police are questioning a suspect, named as Ayoub El-Khazzani, a 25-year-old Moroccan, who was seized at Arras station. Mr Stone - despite having sustained injuries himself - then went to the aid of Mr Moogalian, who was losing blood.
Mr Cazeneuve said he had been living in Spain in 2014, and in Belgium in 2015. Mr Stone said: "I just stuck two of my fingers in the hole, found what I thought to be the artery, pushed down and the bleeding stopped. I just said 'Thank God' and held that position until the paramedics got there."
The suspect was flagged up to France by the Spanish authorities as affiliated to a radical Islamist movement and may have travelled to Syria. Mr Hollande said Mr Stone had "probably saved Mr Moogalian's life".
According to his lawyer, Mr El-Khazzani says he felt "extreme surprise" to see his actions aboard the Thalys train blown out of proportion. The gunmen was held until he could be arrested at Arras station.
The suspect was named as Ayoub El-Khazzani, a 25-year-old Moroccan.
Mr Cazeneuve said Mr Khazzani had been living in Spain in 2014, and in Belgium in 2015.
The suspect was flagged up to France by the Spanish authorities in February 2014 as affiliated to a radical Islamist movement and may have travelled to Syria.
According to his lawyer, Mr Khazzani says he felt "extreme surprise" to see his actions aboard the Thalys train blown out of proportion.
"He does not understand why this story has become so inflated," she told Le Parisien newspaper (in French)."He does not understand why this story has become so inflated," she told Le Parisien newspaper (in French).
"He said he wanted to extract money from the passengers on this Thalys train and nothing else. He denies any terrorist intent to his actions. This is almost laughable, he says.""He said he wanted to extract money from the passengers on this Thalys train and nothing else. He denies any terrorist intent to his actions. This is almost laughable, he says."
His lawyer added Mr El-Khazzani said he had found the Kalashnikov rifle and Luger gun he used in the attack in a suitcase left in a park, near the Brussels station where he used to sleep. The lawyer added that Mr Khazzani said he had found the Kalashnikov rifle and Luger gun he used in the attack in a suitcase left in a park, near the Brussels station where he used to sleep.
He says he was left homeless after his identity documents were stolen. In the last six months, he says he travelled to Spain, Andorra, Belgium, Austria, Germany and France, but denies travelling to Turkey or Syria, according to his lawyer.He says he was left homeless after his identity documents were stolen. In the last six months, he says he travelled to Spain, Andorra, Belgium, Austria, Germany and France, but denies travelling to Turkey or Syria, according to his lawyer.
Mr Khazzani's father, Mohamed el-Khazzani, told the Daily Telegraph in Algeciras, Spain, that his son was a "good boy" interested in "football and fishing".
He later told El Mundo: "They are saying Ayoub is a terrorist but I simply can't believe it. Why would he want to kill anyone? It makes no sense. The only terrorism he is guilty of is terrorism for bread; he doesn't have enough money to feed himself properly."
Le Monde said Ayoub El-Khazzani was born on 3 September 1989 in Tetouan in Morocco and lived in Spain from 2007 to 2014.
It said he was stopped by Spanish police twice on suspicion of marijuana offences.
El Pais says it was discovered in 2014 that he had had contacts with suspected radical Islamists and was placed on file as "potentially dangerous".
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 Hollande praised the actions of the staff when handing the Legion d'honneur to four of the passengers.
Mr Stone was hospitalised and has since been discharged.
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.