Who knew that “lousy wi-fi” would play a part in leading three American heroes to be in the right place at the right time to stop a gunman from continuing his rampage on a train en route from Amsterdam to Paris? Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler demonstrated exemplary bravery when 26-year old Moroccan citizen, Ayoub El Khazzani, stopped to reload his AK-47 rifle. They were able to subdue him before he could continue shooting. They were all honored at a ceremony Monday at Élysées Palace with the légion d’honneur, France’s highest order and also met with President of France, Francois Hollande. Although the three had purchased First Class tickets, they went to another car, but returned to their original seats 30 minutes before the incident because “the wi-fi was lousy.” No one was killed in the attack.
Obama calls 3 Americans who helped thwart attack on European train heroes. http://t.co/GgyMPm8voY pic.twitter.com/yFb5JgRsda
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 22, 2015
“I turned around and I saw he had what looked to be an AK-47 and it looked like it was jammed or wasn’t working and he was trying to charge the weapon. Alek just hit me on the shoulder and said ‘let’s go’ and ran down, tackled him. We hit the ground,” says Stone, a U.S. Airman who also assisted in tending to a wounded passenger. American Ambassador to France, Jane Hartley, describes the three “as having demonstrated the very best of America.”
“I feel that our training really kicked in,” Skarlatos, a National Guardsman commented. After the shooter was subdued he also provided medical care and security, checking the other cars. “These are my friends, I was the third one to get up, and so basically, in times of crisis … do something,” says Sadler.
"It was either do something or die" — 3 Americans, Briton stop train attack in #France: http://t.co/r1NWYosfn3 http://t.co/oPCAJQk6u8
— New Day (@NewDay) August 24, 2015
According to authorities, the gunman was armed with over 200 bullets and a bottle of gasoline and is now being formally charged with the crime.