2015 Thalys train attack
| 2015 Thalys train attack | |
|---|---|
A Thalys train operating the same route, at Brussels-South in June 2014 | |
| Location | On board Thalys train 9364 near Oignies, France |
| Coordinates | 50°27′57″N 2°58′26″E / 50.46583°N 2.97389°E |
| Date | 21 August 2015 17:45 (CEST) |
Attack type | Attempted mass shooting |
| Weapons |
|
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 4 (3 directly, including the perpetrator) |
| Perpetrator | Ayoub El Khazzani |
| Defenders | Damien A., Mark Moogalian, Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Chris Norman |
| Motive | Islamist terrorism |
On 21 August 2015, a man opened fire on a Thalys train on its way from Amsterdam to Paris. Four people were injured, including the assailant. French, American and British passengers confronted the attacker and subdued him. For their heroism, they received France's highest decoration, the Legion of Honour. The assailant, later identified as Ayoub El Khazzani, initially claimed to be only a robber, but later confessed that he had wanted to "kill Americans" as revenge for bombings in Syria.