France train shooting: Video shows mayhem inside train carriage during

Mr Stone was joined by friends US National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and Sacramento State University student Anthony Sadler at a press conference at the US Embassy in Paris.

The gunman slashed Stone several times with a box cutter. That official spoke on condition anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to be identified by name.

Solon Skarlatos said his brother made clear during their phone conversation that Stone deserves special recognition for being the first to tackle the gunman, receiving cuts to his back, face and finger during the struggle.

“I think he’s not dead [because] he took immediate action to take action to protect himself and everyone else there”, Brian said.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live that she was not surprised by his bravery as he is “big, strong and courageous”.

Stone’s mother, Joyce Eskel, told ABC affiliate KXTV in Sacramento, “I really feel like they had a divine intervention and they were saved”.

“At that point I showed up and grabbed the gun from him and basically started beating him in the head until he fell unconscious”, said Skarlatos.

The news agency, quoting the Paris prosecutor’s office says that French authorities “are questioning the attacker and are expected to speak to at least one of the Americans on Saturday about what happened”.

The suspect was arrested, but his identity and motive are not known yet, Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said in an interview with CNN affiliate BFMTV.

Alek Skarlatos, 22, and Spencer Stone, 23, both originally from Carmichael – are being hailed as heroes.

The attacker, identified by a French official close to the investigation as Ayoub El-Khazzani, 26, was on the radar of authorities in France, Belgium and Spain.

Norman, 62, said he thought the suspect’s gun may have jammed, preventing more bloodshed.

Crime and forensic investigators stand on a platform next to a Thalys train of French national railway operator SNCF at the main train station in Arras, northern France, on August 21, 2015. “I notice a man had his throat cut at which (time) Spencer begins to apply pressure to the neck wound before he bled out”.

Emanuel Skarlatos said his son told him that he and his friends were about 10 yards away from the gunman when they rushed him.

“He clearly had no firearms training whatsoever”, Skarlatos said of Khazzani.

“He says that the Kalashnikov didn’t work and he was brought under control immediately without a single shot being fired”, David added. “We wish Airman Stone and all others a fast recovery and thank them for their actions”.

Airman Stone was treated and released on Saturday, according to U.S. officials. The British businessman, Chris Norman, also jumped into the fray.

Despite his wounds, Spencer was able to help the injured passenger, who was hurt in the neck, by applying first aid to stop the bleeding, Norman said.

She said: “These three fearless young Americans, along with the French and British passenger, demonstrated remarkable bravery and acted without regard for their own safety in order to subdue a heavily-armed individual who appeared intent on causing mass casualties”.

But the attack was quickly stopped when two off-duty US servicemen and their friend charged the gunman and restrained him. Authorities said that in addition to the guns, he had nine loaded magazines for the Kalashnikov. Alek got up and Spencer got up and they looked at what was happening and Alek said to Spencer “go get him”‘.

Michel and French President Francois Hollande have agreed to unite their efforts and cooperate, French officials said.

Norman is married with two children, one of whom is in the French navy, and two grandchildren. “My thought was, ‘OK, I’m probably going to die anyway, so let’s go,”‘ he said according to NBC.