France train attacker 'went to Syria', was known to French & Spanish intelligence

ARRAS, France (AFP) - A suspected Islamic militant gunman overpowered by passengers on a packed Amsterdam-Paris train had visited Syria and was known to both French and Spanish intelligence services, officials said Saturday.

The suspect, who has been named as 25-year-old Moroccan national Ayoub El Khazzani, was wrestled to the floor by three American passengers after opening fire with an assault rifle on Friday evening, and is now being interrogated by counter-terrorist officials near Paris.

A Spanish counter-terrorism source said he had lived in Spain for seven years until last year before travelling to Syria from France.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve confirmed that Spanish intelligence services had flagged the man to France "due to his membership of the radical Islamist movement."

Armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Luger automatic pistol, nine cartridge clips and a box-cutter, the attacker opened fire on board the high-speed train just after it crossed from Belgium into northern France.

A 28-year-old French passenger spotted the gunman as he exited a toilet cubicle and tried to disarm him, but Khazzani slipped away and fired several shots.

Then a Franco-American traveller in his 50s clashed with the man and was shot.

But the attack was quickly stopped when two off-duty US servicemen and their friend charged the gunman and overpowered him.