Suspect in Paris-Bound Train Attack Expected to Be Charged Tuesday

It came just days after the trio helped to restrain a gunman as he prepared to open fire on a train from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Paris on Friday (21Aug15), and the actors showed their appreciation for the men’s bravery by inviting them to the screening on Monday night (24Aug15).

The alleged gunman, identified as Moroccan national Ayoub El Khazzani, said he only meant to conduct a robbery, not a terror act, his attorney Sophie David told CNN affiliate BFMTV.

He had an AK-47 assault weapon with nine magazines of ammunition, a Luger pistol with extra ammo and a box cutter, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

The father of a suspected Islamist militant gunman overpowered by passengers on a high-speed train in France was quoted on Monday as saying he could not believe his son was a terrorist.

“I wasn’t on the train, but I don’t think he was capable of doing something like that”, Khazzani told El Mundo, speaking to the Spanish newspaper in Arabic.

One reason investigators suspect a premeditated attack was that El-Khazzani, who claimed to be homeless and living in a Brussels park, used a first-class ticket, Molins said. He might have tried to go to Syria.

Investigators have yet to make a final determination on El Khazzani’s travel.

If Ayoub el Khazzani boarded the Thalys 9364 train on August 21 with the intention of striking fear into the hearts of Western heathens and advancing the cause of global jihad, he is not yet ready to admit it to French police.

“The aggression that took place on Friday… which could have degenerated into a monstrous carnage… is fresh proof that we must prepare for other attacks and therefore protect ourselves”, Hollande said.

Hollande did not elaborate on a specific threat, although France has been on high alert for attacks all year.

The train incident has highlighted growing difficulties in protecting public spaces from individual attackers. He stressed his commitment to counterterrorism efforts at home and overseas against extremists. French authorities can legally hold him for questioning until Tuesday, when they must charge him or free him.

Skarlatos said El-Khazzani appeared to have little or no firearms training.

Moogalian and the Frenchman will receive the Legion of Honor, as did Stone, Stone, U.S. Army Spec. Alek Skarlatos, their friend Anthony Sadler and British businessman Chris Norman.

He says Stone is being treated for a laceration to his thumb, for which a full recovery is expected with ongoing therapy, as well as a “non-critical” eye injury and other minor wounds.

Conscription-based militaries are out of vogue in most of Europe and in the United States, and for good reason. Skarlatos remained in Stone in Germany.

California Governor Jerry Brown tweeted on Saturday, “Proud of the fearless Californians who helped prevent yesterday’s attack in France & saved countless lives”.

“I saw a guy entering the train with an AK and a handgun”, he said.

“Mark is one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever known”, Jacqueline Moogalian-Pittman told The Associated Press.