We’re learning some new details regarding the suspected terror attack on a train travelling between Paris and Amsterdam today.
According to an internal Pentagon report obtained by the Military Times, it was a U.S. Airman and not a U.S. Marine who was injured while subduing the gunman:
U.S. airman wounded when troops reportedly subdue gunman http://t.co/2xUhtLEdm9
— ArmyTimes (@ArmyTimes) August 22, 2015
Although there were two U.S. Marines and another unidentified member of the military on the train who were involved in stopping the attack:
An airman was wounded by a gunman on a train from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday, according to an internal Pentagon report obtained by Military Times.
The report did not say how the airman was wounded, but media outlets have reported that U.S. troops overpowered the gunman, preventing him from killing the train’s passengers.
Three other service members were involved in the incident: two Marines and one service member whose branch was unknown at press time, the report says.
Defense officials in the U.S. and Europe declined to say what branches of service the troops were from.
“At this point, we can only confirm that one U.S. military member was injured in the incident; the injury is non life-threatening,” said Air Force Lt. Col. David Westover, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.”
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ABC’s Jon Williams confirms:
Defense official confirms US national injured subduing #ArrasTrain attacker is USAF airman – one of at least two US service members involved
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) August 22, 2015
France is reportedly moving to honor the Americans for their role in stopping what could have been a massacre:
French MPs propose the Marines that saved lives on the Paris – Amsterdam be considered for the Legion of Honor, the country's highest honor.
— Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) August 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/634850692126121984
@BecketAdams 9 magazines.. 300 rounds
Whateve France's highest decoration for foreign nationals is, these Marines earned it
— DaveinTexas (@DaveinTexas) August 21, 2015
And the gunman has been identified as Ayoub el-Qahzzani who (SURPRISE!) had recently returned to France from Syria:
https://twitter.com/MsIntervention/status/634887372300267520
Update. One of the servicemen who stopped the attack has been identified as U.S. National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, 22, from Oregon:
"I just got back from Afghanistan last month, and this was
my vacation from Afghanistan," one said. http://t.co/2Wp3XYeXnI— Patricia Zengerle (@ReutersZengerle) August 22, 2015
From Reuters:
Alek Skarlatos, a 22-year-old member of the U.S. National Guard from Oregon, said his friend, who is also in the military, had been injured while he grappled with the gunman. They eventually got the attacker under control, Norman said.
“I just got back from Afghanistan last month, and this was my vacation from Afghanistan,” Skarlatos said.
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