Skip to main content
France - European Union

European ministers to meet Saturday in Paris after high-speed train attack

Ministers from nine European countries are to meet in Paris on Saturday to discuss tranpsort security after last week's high-speed train attack. The alleged Islamist gunman was charged with attempted murder connected to a terrorist operation on Tuesday.

French public prosecutor François Molins gives a press conference about the Thalys attack on Tuesday
French public prosecutor François Molins gives a press conference about the Thalys attack on Tuesday AFP
Advertising

The interior and transport ministers from nine countries linked by rail - France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland - will discuss how to "better identify people who take public transport" in the light of the attack, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced on Wednesday.

"We should examine whether we can implement a system that allows for more systematic checks in airports, in public transport, in a more coordinated way," Cazeneuve said.

There are no border controls between countries that are party to the EU's Schengen accord, although there are between continental Europe and the UK.

Prosecutors filed terror charges against Moroccan national Ayoub El Khazzani, who was wrestled to the ground by several people while apparently preparing to massacre passengers, dismissing his claim that he found the weapons he used in a park and intended to hold the passengers hostage for ransom as "fantasy".

They have established his movements on the day and say that he bought a ticket for Paris for 149 euros cash in Brussels, watched a video of Islamist preaching on his phone, then went into the toilet to remove his shirt.

He came out armed with an assault rifle, 270 rounds of ammunition and a Luger pistol strapped to his chest.

Cazeneuve also raised the possibility of increased cooperation between police forces concerning individuals who have been placed on file as potential dangers to security but have not committed any crime.

About 5,000 people are on such files in France.

Khazzani lived for seven years in Spain and his hardline Islamist leanings were reported to Spanish intelligence services, who tipped off their French counterparts that he was planning to cross the border in 2014.

He worked in France for mobile phone operator Lycamobile for less than three months.

But, in answer to criticism from the far-right Front National, Cazeneuve insisted that the French authorities had no grounds to take action against him then.

Khazzani also travelled to Turkey and back in May and June this year, raising suspicions that he spent time in Syrian where the Islamic State and other jihadi groups are active.

His Facebook page was disabled on Saturday, the day after the foiled attack.

Prosecutors said Wednesday they would investigate where the weapons came from, Khazzani's history and any help he may have had.

Three young Americans and a 62-year-old British consultant have been awarded the Légion d'honneur.

One of them, Aleksander Skarlatos, will receive the Soldier's Medal, while

Franco-American passenger Mark Moogalian, who was shot and seriously injured in the struggle and was recovering in hospital on Tuesday, was to receive a medal later, as were train conductor Michel Bruet, off-duty train driver Eric Tanty and a French passenger who wished to remain anonymous.

Khazzani's lawyer, Mani Ayadi, has protested at the fact that his client arrived at Paris's main courthouse handcuffed, blindfolded and barefooted.

Prosecutors said that he had refused a pair of shoes that were offered to him and was given a different pair when inside the court.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.