{"id":31985,"date":"2020-11-22T21:38:13","date_gmt":"2020-11-22T21:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/22\/former-guardsman-recalls-trying-to-kill-gunman-in-2015-terrorist-attack-on-paris-bound-train\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:43:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:43:20","slug":"former-guardsman-recalls-trying-to-kill-gunman-in-2015-terrorist-attack-on-paris-bound-train","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/11\/22\/former-guardsman-recalls-trying-to-kill-gunman-in-2015-terrorist-attack-on-paris-bound-train\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Guardsman recalls trying to kill gunman in 2015 terrorist attack on Paris-bound train"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2014 One of three Americans acclaimed as heroes for tackling an alleged Islamic State gunman aboard a Paris-bound train testified Friday that he tried to kill the man who stormed into their passenger car with an arsenal of weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alek Skarlatos<\/a>, 28, told a Paris court at the gunman\u2019s trial that he yanked a pistol from the attacker\u2019s hand, turned it on him and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was honestly trying my best to kill or restrain him,\u201d Skarlatos said, recounting the chaotic Aug. 21, 2015, scene aboard the highspeed Amsterdam to Paris train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attack suspect, Ayoub El Khazzani faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is convicted of attempted terrorist murder. The 31-year-old Moroccan, who had spent time in Syria, is being tried in a heavily guarded courtroom with three suspected accomplices.<\/p>\n\n\n\t