Armed man injures three on high-speed train to Paris

France has been on edge since Islamist gunmen went on a rampage in January, killing 17 people in the capital Paris.

The train was stopped in the town of Arras, in France near the border with Belgium, and the man was taken away by police officers.

The suspect was armed with an automatic rifle and a knife, Piednoel said.

Two of the victims were in critical condition, according to a statement from Hollande’s office.

La Voix du Nord reported that the man of North African origin had fired a Kalashnikov before being overpowered by the two soldiers who heard him cock the weapon in the toilet. He had reportedly been hurt breaking the glass to activate the train’s alarm.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve was heading to Arras in the wake of the attack, his ministry said.

It is not clear whether the injured American was one of the apparent Marines who stopped the shooting.

“Talking about a terrorist motive would be premature at the moment”, he added.

Gunfire broke out on an worldwide train Friday evening that left at least three passengers wounded, France’s state railway said.

The Thalys official Twitter account tweeted: “The situation is under control, the travellers are safe”.