The Three American soldiers who prevented an attack on a train have been given the French nationality

The three Americans who managed to prevent an attack on the Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris in August 2015 were given French nationality. They received the certificate during a ceremony in Sacramento by the French consul-general Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens.

Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone, all 26, had submitted a request for naturalization in April, since they had a strong connection with France since their action on the high-speed train. “They have risked their lives for the values ​​of the Republic,” said Lebrun-Damiens.

The three US military were traveling in Europe when the incident occurred in Thalys. The Moroccan jihadist Ayoub El Khazzani was armed with a Kalashnikov on the train and wanted to make an attack. He opened the fire, but the Americans managed to overpower him and thus prevent a bloodbath.

The Americans grew into heroes in France and were given the highest and most important French national award by the then President François Hollande: the French Legion of Honor. The trio can also be seen in ‘The 15:17 to Paris’, a film by Clint Eastwood, with the real heroes of the time in the leading role.