Unarmed US soldier is slashed in NECK as he and two friends wrestle AK47-wielding Moroccan terrorist to the ground after he opened fire on terrified train passengers in France
Air Force airman Spencer Stone ran at the gunman when he opened fire on the high speed service to Paris
Was travelling with Oregon National Guard member Alek Skarlatos, 22, who was travelling through Europe
With the help of Anthony Sadler, from California, and British national Chris Norman, they stopped the attack
Stone was cut in the neck during the confrontation and is in hospital - although his injuries are not life-threatening
The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, got on the train in Brussels
He came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire. Fortunately, the hero passengers overpowered him
Three people were wounded in the attack, including Stone. French police hailed the bravery of the bystanders
A US solider who foiled a terrorist attack on a French-bound train was knifed in the neck while disarming the crazed gunman.
Spencer Stone, who is part of the U.S. Air Force, spotted the 26-year-old Moroccan acting suspiciously and heard him trying to arm his weapon in the toilet of the high speed train between Amsterdam and Paris.
He was travelling with Oregon National Guard member Alek Skarlatos, 22, who was on leave travelling through Europe at the time after returning from Afghanistan.
With the help of Anthony Sadler, from Pittsburg, California, and British IT consultant Chris Norman, they managed to wrestle the attacker to the ground, stopping what could have been a deadly terrorist attack.
The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, got on the train in Brussels and attempted his attack soon after crossing the French border.
He came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire, wounding two people on board. Fortunately, the hero passengers were nearby and overpowered him.
The terrorist, named in reports as Ayoub el-Qahzzani, had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 300 rounds.
Skarlatos described Stone's heroic actions to ITV News in the aftermath of the attack.
'Spencer ran a good ten metres to get to the guy and we didn't that his gun not working or anything like that,' he said. 'Spencer just ran anyway and if anybody would have gotten shot it would have been Spencer for sure and we're very lucky that nobody got killed, especially Spencer.'
He added that he was in 'good spirits' in hospital, but was still shocked by what unfolded.
Pentagon spokesman Commander William Urban said: 'We are aware of the reports and can only confirm that one military member was injured in the incident.'
US President Barack Obama praised the 'courage and quick thinking' of the men.
Maj. Stephen Bomar, an Oregon Military Departments spokesman confirmed Friday evening that one of the Americans is a member of the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat team but declined to name him.
However Skarlatos was identified by his stepmother.
Bomar told The Oregonian: 'It's fantastic that no matter who it was, someone stepped up to stop such a horrific event. We're absolutely proud that it happened to be someone from the Oregon Army National Guard.
El Pais claimed that the terror suspect had recently been in Syria before returning to Europe to launch his attack.
It is understood that the gunman boarded the train, which had more than 550 passengers on board, in Brussels and made his move as soon as it crossed into France.
(The Americans were) particularly courageous and showed extreme bravery in extremely difficult circumstances
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve
French media claim that the suspect was previously known to French security services and was living in Spain. He has already been linked to a number of radical Islamic groups. He was classed, according to FranceInfo.fr as 'potentially dangerous'.
Speaking in Arras, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve praised the Marines for their timely intervention.
He said: 'Thanks to them we have averted a drama.
