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Légion d’honneur for men who 'prevented carnage' on French train French train attack men receive Légion d’honneur for 'preventing carnage'
(34 minutes later)
Three Americans and a Briton have been awarded France’s highest honour – the Légion d’honneur – for their roles in stopping a suspected terrorist attack on a train.Three Americans and a Briton have been awarded France’s highest honour – the Légion d’honneur – for their roles in stopping a suspected terrorist attack on a train.
French president François Hollande said the two Americans who first tackled the gunman were soldiers, “but on Friday you were simply passengers. You behaved as soldiers but also as responsible men.” The French president, François Hollande, said the two Americans who first tackled the gunman were soldiers, “but on Friday you were simply passengers. You behaved as soldiers but also as responsible men.”
Hollande then pinned the medal on US airman Spencer Stone, national guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and their friend Anthony Sadler, who subdued the gunman as he moved through the train with an assault rifle strapped to his bare chest. The British businessman, Chris Norman, who also jumped into the fray, also received a medal. Related: France train attack heroes: 'It feels unreal – like a dream'
Hollande said the men showed “that faced with terror, we have the power to resist. You also gave a lesson in courage, in will, and thus in hope.” Hollande pinned the medal on US airman Spencer Stone, national guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and their friend Anthony Sadler, who subdued the gunman as he moved through the train with an assault rifle strapped to his bare chest. The British businessman, Chris Norman, who jumped into the fray, also received a medal.
The 25-year-old Moroccan suspect, Ayoud El-Khazzani, has been detained and is being questioned by French counter-terrorism police outside Paris. Hollande said the men showed “that faced with terror, we have the power to resist. You also gave a lesson in courage, in will, and thus in hope”.
Khazzani’s lawyer said her client doesn’t understand the suspicions of terrorism, media attention or even that a person was wounded. For him, there were no gunshots fired, Sophie David said. The 25-year-old Moroccan suspect, Ayoub El-Khazzani, has been detained and is being questioned by French counter-terrorism police outside Paris.
The Americans, appeared slightly overwhelmed as they received France’s highest honoir. Khazzani’s lawyer said her client did not understand the suspicions of terrorism, media attention or even that a person was wounded. For him, there were no gunshots fired, Sophie David said.
His arm in a sling, Stone, 23, has said he was coming out of a deep sleep when the gunman appeared. The Americans appeared slightly overwhelmed as they received France’s highest honour. Stone, 23 – who had his arm in a sling – said he was coming out of a deep sleep when the gunman appeared.
Skarlatos, a 22-year-old national guardsman recently back from Afghanistan, “just hit me on the shoulder and said ‘Let’s go’.” He said that Skarlatos – a 22-year-old who had recently returned from Afghanistan – “just hit me on the shoulder and said ‘Let’s go’.”
With those words, Hollande said, a “veritable carnage” was avoided.With those words, Hollande said, a “veritable carnage” was avoided.
“Since Friday, the entire world admires your courage, your sangfroid, your spirit of solidarity. This is what allowed you to with bare hands your bare hands to subdue an armed man. This must be an example for all, and a source of inspiration,” Hollande said. “Since Friday, the entire world admires your courage, your sangfroid, your spirit of solidarity. This is what allowed you to – with bare hands, your bare hands – to subdue an armed man. This must be an example for all, and a source of inspiration,” Hollande said.