US airman who tackled train terrorist leaves hospital with a wave (2024)

The US airman who was stabbed in the neck and hand while tackling a Kalashnikov-wielding terrorist to the ground in a packed Paris-bound train has emerged from hospital with a humble wave.

He became a hero while traveling on a high speed train from Amsterdam to France with his two friends - Oregon National Guard member Alek Skarlatos, 22, who was on leave after a tour of Afghanistan, and Anthony Sadler of California – when they ambushed a terrorist and averted a tragedy.

Having already been suspicious of Ayoub el-Qahzzani's behavior, Stone leaped into action when he heard him load up a Kalashnikov in the toilet. When he came out to open fire, Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler charged and tackled him to the ground.

Stone was stabbed in the hand during the scuffle with a Klashnikov and Stanley knife on Friday - almost severing his thumb - but was hailed a hero as he disarmed the suspect then administered first aid to others before caring for himself.

On Saturday, he emerged from the central hospital in Lille, France, wearing bandages and a sling - and offered the cameras a humble wave before slipping into a black sedan with diplomatic license plates.

Scroll down for video

It was not immediately clear where he was headed.

Stone, who is in the Air Force, was also commended for helping an injured train passenger, a French-American, bleeding from a gunshot wound. That passenger, a teacher who resides outside Paris, was being treated in another hospital in Lille.

French President Francois Hollande said in a statement that he spoke with President Barack Obama to personally thank him for the 'exemplary conduct of American citizens who stopped an extremely serious attack.'

Earlier on Saturday, Stone's friend Sadler described the sequence of events.

'We heard a gunshot, and we heard glass breaking behind us, and saw a train employee sprint past us down the aisle,' Sadler said from France. They then saw a gunman entering the train car with an automatic rifle.

'As he was co*cking it to shoot it, Alek just yells, 'Spencer, go!' And Spencer runs down the aisle,' Sadler continued. 'Spencer makes first contact, he tackles the guy, Alek wrestles gun away from him, and the gunman pulls out a box cutter and slices Spencer a few times. And the three of us beat him until he was unconscious.'

As they beat the man - named in reports as Ayoub el-Qahzzani - he pleaded with them to return his AK-47, Sadler explained.

'He was just telling us to give back his gun. 'Give me back my gun! Give me back my gun!' But we just carried on beating him up and immobilised him and that was it.'

The men, along with fellow passenger British IT consultant Chris Norman, have since been commended for their bravery by President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande has tweeted that he will meet the men tomorrow to thank them.

In a statement, Obama praised the 'courage and quick thinking' of the men.

British passenger Chris Norman told French television that he helped tie the gunman up. Stone, who was stabbed in the neck and the hand - almost severing his thumb - then turned to help another passenger who had been cut in the throat.

'The president expressed his profound gratitude for the courage and quick thinking of several passengers, including US service members, who selflessly subdued the attacker,' a White House official said.

'While the investigation into the attack is in its early stages, it is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy.

'We will remain in close contact with French authorities as the investigation proceeds,' the official added.

Stone's family is travelling to France to be with him as he recovers from the 'significant injuries' he sustained while thwarting gunman Ayoub El-Qahzzani's attempt to cause carnage on the Amsterdam to Paris express.

US embassy officials from Paris have visited Mr Stone in hospital.

The US airman suffered 'multiple lacerations' when El-Qahzzani lashed out with a 'box cutter' [Stanley knife] as Mr Stone attempted to disarm him.

Video footage of the aftermath has emerged, showing what appears to be the gunman lying on the floor, moaning with pain, with his hands and feet tied up with t-shirts after he was beaten unconscious.

The camera then pans around to the Kalashnikov resting on a seat surrounded by blood stains on the windows.

According to witnesses he was carrying a short-stocked Kalashnikov assault rifle, at least five magazines of ammunition, a handgun and knives, according to witnesses.

The terrorist, named in reports as Ayoub el-Qahzzani, had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 300 rounds. He was arrested by police at a train station in Arras and taken to hospital where he is now in custody.

Meanwhile French media site BFMTV are reporting that the man denies being a terrorist and instead claims he wanted to carry out an armed robbery and ransom train passengers.

He also claims he found the weapons in a bag 'by chance in a Brussels Park'.

Skarlatos described Stone's heroic actions toITV 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.

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.

HoweverSkarlatos 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.

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.

'(The Americans were) particularly courageous and showed extreme bravery in extremely difficult circ*mstances.'

The man was arrested by police near the town of Arras in northern France.

Belgian journalist Marin Buxant Tweeted that the US Marines were on leave in Brussels when they spotted the man and followed him on the train.