“El Khazzani, who went from drug-trafficking in Spain to Syria as a jihadi” and then apparently into France with no problem. Why was he let in? Why wasn’t he adequately vetted? The answer is always the same: probing questions posed to such people returning from Syria would have been seen as “Islamophobic” and deep-sixed.
“French court convicts Islamic State operative over foiled train attack,” Associated Press, December 17, 2020:
PARIS (AP) — A French court on Thursday convicted an Islamic State operative over a train attack five years ago that was foiled with the dramatic intervention of three American passengers.
The special terrorism court sentenced Morocco-born Ayoub El Khazzani to life in prison, with 22 years guaranteed behind bars.
El Khazzani, who went from drug-trafficking in Spain to Syria as a jihadi, met his match in the train car encounter with three childhood friends from California who took him down. Clint Eastwood turned the face-off into a movie, “The 15:17 to Paris.”
Three accomplices, who weren’t on the train, were convicted of complicity and handed sentences ranging from seven to 27 years.
The verdict closes the month-long trial of El Khazzani for attempted terrorist murder. He had boarded the train to Paris on Aug. 21, 2015 with an arsenal of weapons.
The court rejected El Khazzani’s contention that he had changed his mind about carrying out the assault. He seriously wounded a French-American teacher who grabbed his Kalashnikov.
“I still feel lucky to be here. That’s what I’m focused on. Just feel lucky that I survived and just glad to be in France,” said Mark Moogalian, the teacher who was shot in the back with a hand gun. The bullet exited through his neck.
Few if any of the passengers in car No. 12 of the train from Amsterdam to Paris would have reached their destination alive if the attack had gone off as planned, prosecutors, lawyers and some witnesses contended during the trial.
El Khazzani, armed with an assault rifle, nearly 300 rounds of ammunition, a hand gun and a cutter when he boarded the train in Brussels, was tackled, choked and knocked unconscious with his own Kalashnikov by the two American servicemen and their friend.
The heroics of Spencer Stone, a U.S. Air Force man, Alek Skarlatos, in the National Guard, and Anthony Sadler, a student, were a highlight of the trial and their testimony captivated the courtroom. Stone fell ill upon arrival in France and eventually testified by video from California….
Investigators had exposed an alleged network of connections that culminated, months after the train assault, in the attacks on a Paris music hall, cafes and restaurants and at a sports stadium that left 130 people dead.
The train attack was allegedly organized by Abdelhamid Abaaoud, portrayed as the coordinator of the November 2015 attacks in Paris. El Khazzani was with Abaaoud in Syria and traveled with him back to Brussels. He told the court that Abaaoud concocted the plan for the train attack and he followed it to the letter — until he changed his mind….
Carol says
Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” that depicts Bradley Cooper as Kris Kyle, the legendary U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, is a must-watch movie for all Islamosavvy Kuffar, as well.
revereridesagain says
Excellent movie.
william carr says
Tragically after he cam home form the military he was murdered in some altercation in his own community, I forget he exact circumstances
william a carr says
came home from
Phil says
Kris was doing a program helping vets recover by taking them shooting. What had happened was the last guy he met was insane and shot Kris instead.
gravenimage says
Terrible–I did not know that.
Michael Copeland says
What would WE do if a situation suddenly unfolded in front of our eyes?
This is something we should all give some thought to, even if we do not really know what it would be.
“We just did what we had to do. You either run away or fight. We chose to fight and got lucky and didn’t die”, explained one of the Americans who brought down this would-be mass killer in the train. “Survival instincts kicked in”, said another in a different place. “I fought back with all my strength” said the brave 14-year old attacked by four Pakistani muslims in Glasgow.
We do not know what scenario it will be – a man lighting his shoes on a plane, a nervous-looking muslim with a large backpack at a concert hall, a man in a mall who throws someone else’s small child off a balcony, a participant at a meeting who emerges from the toilet armed with knives, or a van which suddenly swerves off the road into pedestrians. We need to keep alert.
https://gatesofvienna.net/2019/12/courage-what-would-we-do/
https://gatesofvienna.net/2019/03/i-fought-back/
gravenimage says
All important points, Michael. That these heroes were all military or friends of military definitely helped.
Peter WF says
There isn’t a question – you fight. You may as well go down fighting rather than die hiding under a desk. Realize what utter cowards these bastards are. Use anything at hand – shopping trolley, walking stick, umbrella, belt(Have one with a heavy buckle and let the bastard have it).
Who are you dealing with?
Search “world map average IQ”
Search “world map marry first cousin”
Search “world map muslim” – see a correlation?
Search “effects of long term inbreeding of muslims”. Or https://wentworthreport.com/2017/07/21/effects-of-centuries-of-extreme-inbreeding-among-muslims-low-iq-violence-and-terrorism/
Trolley Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_M1Gb4bmzk
Tunisia attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW1CShFy0NI
Phil says
There shouldn’t be anything to think about. If you’re a real man, you’ll fight back, regardless of the chances of success. If we all fight back, they may get some of us, but not all (unless you happen to be on a plane one of them has hijacked and locked themselves in a cockpit. Still, fight to the death).
Peter WF says
I have a copy of “The 15:17 to Paris”. Go out of your way to see this movie. Mark Moogalian the teacher, Spencer Stone, a U.S. Air Force man, Alek Skarlatos, in the National Guard, and Anthony Sadler, a student, ALL PLAY THEMSELVES in the movie. A point easily missed is that Stone also saved Mark Moogalian’s life with his medical training. Lifts your spirt to watch it.
https://www.biography.com/news/1517-to-paris-movie-clint-eastwood-real-life-heroes
gravenimage says
France: Muslim migrant gets life sentence for foiled jihad massacre on train featured in Clint Eastwood film
………….
I just hope this *really is* a life sentence, and not just some case wher he is out again in a few years.
I also recommend “The 15:17 to Paris”. A bit padded with backstory in places, but over all an *excellent* movie. The lead actors play themselves, and do a fine job of it. A great Anti-Jihad film.