God put protective angels on that train. Spencer Stone (U.S. Air Force), Alek Skarlatos (U.S. National Guard), Anthony Sadler (Pittsburg, CA) and Chris Norman (British Businessman).
Amazing heroism… U.S. Air Force Spencer Stone charged a terrorist with a fully loaded AK-47, tackled him and suffered a severe cut to the back of the neck. All of them are heroes. The terrorist, named in reports as Ayoub el-Qahzzani, had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 300 rounds.
FRANCE – A US solider who foiled a terrorist attack on a French-bound train was knifed in the neck while disarming the crazed gunman.
Spencer Stone (circled above), who is part of the U.S. Air Force, spotted the 26-year-old Moroccan acting suspiciously and heard him trying to arm his weapon in the toilet of the high speed train between Amsterdam and Paris.
He was travelling with Oregon National Guard member Alek Skarlatos, 22, who was on leave and travelling through Europe at the time after returning from Afghanistan.
With the help of Anthony Sadler, from Pittsburg, California, and British IT consultant Chris Norman, they managed to wrestle the attacker to the ground, stopping what could have been a deadly terrorist attack.
Video footage of the aftermath has emerged, showing what appears to be the gunman lying on the floor with his hands and feet tied up with t-shirts. The camera then pans around to the machine gun resting on a seat surrounded by blood stains on the windows.
The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, got on the train in Brussels and attempted his attack soon after crossing the French border.
He came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire, wounding two people on board. Fortunately, the hero passengers were nearby and overpowered him.
The terrorist, named in reports as Ayoub el-Qahzzani, had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 300 rounds.
‘We heard a gunshot, and we heard glass breaking behind us, and saw a train employee sprint past us down the aisle,’ Sadler said from France. They saw a gunman entering the train car with an automatic rifle, he said.
‘As he was cocking it to shoot it, Alek just yells, ‘Spencer, go!’ And Spencer runs down the aisle,’ Sadler said. ‘Spencer makes first contact, he tackles the guy, Alek wrestles 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.’
‘The gunman never said a word,’ he added.
Skarlatos described Stone’s heroic actions to ITV News in the aftermath of the attack.
‘Spencer ran a good ten metres to get to the guy and we didn’t think that his gun not working or anything like that,’ he said. ‘Spencer just ran anyway and if anybody would have gotten shot it would have been Spencer for sure and we’re very lucky that nobody got killed, especially Spencer.’
He added that he was in ‘good spirits’ in hospital, but was still shocked by what unfolded.
Pentagon spokesman Commander William Urban said: ‘We are aware of the reports and can only confirm that one military member was injured in the incident.’
US President Barack Obama praised the ‘courage and quick thinking’ of the men. (more details)
Heavenly Father we thank you for giving them strength in shield and sword; we praise You for keeping our hero’s safe to hear Your message, follow Your guidance, and return home to our embrace… Amen.