OT: Unarmed US Marines stop terrorist attack on French Train

Submitted by Vengeful Barbarian on

Pretty amazing story here, proud of our boys in uniform. 

 

Three people have been hurt after a heavily armed man opened fire on a train in northern France, before being overpowered by two American passengers.

The incident happened on the high-speed Thalys service near Arras, and the attacker was arrested at Arras station.

The interior minister praised the Americans, one of whom was seriously injured, as was another passenger.

The man arrested was a 26-year-old Moroccan. Anti-terrorist officers have taken over the case.

The weapons were said to include a Kalashnikov, a knife, an automatic pistol and cartridges.

One of the two people seriously hurt had a gunshot wound, the other a knife wound.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34023361

 

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NFG

August 21st, 2015 at 7:33 PM ^

Even more badass if they weren't marines if you think about it. Just think if we would have left a couple of these guys in Iraq.

/ sees self out



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sadeto

August 21st, 2015 at 9:18 PM ^

Reports that the Marines heard him loading his weapons in the bathroom and recognized the sound and confronted him. French passengers report seeing a man with a shaven head throw himself on him. Some are calling for the Legion of Merit.

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NFG Girlfriend

August 22nd, 2015 at 12:32 AM ^

These guys should get combat awards for their actions. Stopping a radical Islamist terrorist (if confirmed) should fall under the modern day war on terror act (whatever the official title is). Guys should get Purple Hearts, an action badge and a high level valor award. Depending on the story, should probably be an award signed by a four star or the secretary of defense.

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UMgradMSUdad

August 22nd, 2015 at 12:00 AM ^

Those getting bent out of shape by the jokes about French fighting prowess should probably just skip my post.

Why did the French build the Arc de Triomphe?

So the German soldiers would have shade.

 

Why did the French build the  Arc de Triomphe so tall?

So the Germans could see the white flag from a distance.

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flashOverride

August 22nd, 2015 at 8:57 AM ^

Ex-Army (and later Army National Guard) here. I gotta say I had a chuckle when it turned out to be Air Force and Army National Guard guys, unfairly stereotyped as "Chair Force" and "Weekend Warriors". 

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Perkis-Size Me

August 22nd, 2015 at 9:12 AM ^

I think they were Air Force and National Guard, but that doesn't make them any less heroic.

The guy was carrying 12 full cartridges for an AK47, along with a hand gun and a knife. Who the hell knows what would've happened had these heroes not intervened?



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Ray

August 22nd, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^

Air Force, National Guard, and a third American, a student. Here's the post script on the story, with a happy ending: Anthony Sadler, a senior at Sacramento State University, was traveling with childhood friends Stone, of Carmichael, California, and Alek Skarlatos, a National Guardsman from Roseburg, Oregon, when they heard a gunshot and breaking glass. Sadler told The Associated Press that they saw a train employee sprint down the aisle followed by a gunman with an automatic rifle. "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 the gun away from him, and the gunman pulls out a boxcutter and slices Spencer a few times. And the three of us beat him until he was unconscious."

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