Americans who foiled jihadist attack on French train happy to “close five-year chapter”
By AFP
21 November 2020 |
12:07 pm
"It feels like the closing of a five-year long chapter in our lives," says Alek Skarlatos, one of three Americans who, along with a French-American, Mark Moogalian, helped foil a terror attack on a French high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris in August 2015. The trial of Ayoub El Khazzani, the perpetrator of the failed attack, opened Monday in Paris.
In this article
Related
13 Dec
The assault on police officers guarding a polio vaccination team took place a day after the militants had called an end to their truce with the Pakistani government.
14 Dec
The Group of Seven countries have condemned Russia's military buildup near its border with Ukraine and warned that further military aggression against Ukraine would have "massive consequences." G7 foreign ministers also issued a warning to Iran.
17 Dec
They're nicknamed the gorillas – or bodyguards – of the French Republic. The police officers of the force's Protection Unit are in charge of the security of French and foreign dignitaries but also candidates for France's presidential elections, as well as other figures who require special protection. We take a rare look at the strenuous selection process policemen and women have to go through before taking on the job. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's James Vasina.
17 Dec
Many Facebook groups based in Mali and Nigeria began sharing a video of a helicopter on December 9, claiming it showed an aircraft delivering weapons to terrorists. In Mali, the posts often accused the French government of operating the helicopter, while posts coming from Nigeria laid the blame on the Nigerian government. In reality, the video is from neither one of these countries – it was filmed in the Central African Republic during a routine supply drop.
16 Dec
Parents have accused the government of lacking empathy, as they remember one of the worst attacks in Pakistan's history. Imran Khan is negotiating with the TTP — which is responsible for the deaths of 132 children.
16 Dec
On February 19, 2020, a racist terrorist attack destroyed nine young lives. The perpetrator also killed himself and his mother. From the perspective of the relatives one year on, far too little has been done.
20 Dec
On December 19, 2016, Islamist attacker Anis Amri drove a stolen truck through a crowd in central Berlin, killing and injuring dozens. Five years later, the background to the attack remains unclear.
21 Dec
In this edition, we’re focusing on the French delicacy of foie gras. One of France’s most cherished foods, it’s a staple at Christmas tables across the country. But foie gras is also a source of controversy. There are ethical concerns about how it is produced, which has led several French cities to ban it for official gatherings. The move has launched a fierce national debate.
24 Dec
French troops left their military base in Timbuktu as part of a reorganization of Operation Barkhane announced by French president Emmanuel Macron in June. The Kidal and Tessalit bases were handed over to the Malian army in October and November, respectively.
25 Dec
A Yemeni Houthi rebel attack on the Saudi Arabian town of Jizan resulted in two casualties and seven injured. Among the dead from the Houthi-fired projectile are a Saudi and a Yemeni national.
26 Dec
The attacker set off an explosive device at the entrance to a bar and restaurant in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as customers gathered on Christmas Day. Two children were reportedly among those killed.
Latest
34 mins ago
Researchers from the US and France say that having more than 2 kids could have a negative effect on late-life cognition. The researchers analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).
34 mins ago
In the French region of Burgundy, home to the city of Dijon, it's not just the grapes that are famous. The region's other star fruit is the blackcurrant. A whole market has emerged based on the cultivation of this small berry. Today, the precious black fruit is transformed in many ways. Its best-known use in France is in the production of the famous liqueur known as crème de cassis, but blackcurrant is also used in cooking and even in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. We take a closer look.
34 mins ago
The US Air Force has announced a successful test measured at five times the speed of sound. A B-52 bomber off the coast of California carried out the test.
1 hour ago
Hope is all but lost that eight miners trapped in a flooded mine in Burkina Faso for a month may have survived. Also, suspects are arrested in Mali after authorities say they foiled a coup attempt earlier this month. And advocates calling for tax reform on the continent say that lawmakers should be on the sharp end of pushing for changes that will tackle an unequal system.
1 hour ago
Two new prospective members of the 73-year-old NATO alliance have submitted their applications to join. Their bids, which come in light of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, have already faced resistance from Turkey.
1 hour ago
Brussels has said a British proposal to effectively override parts of a Brexit deal with a new law is "not acceptable." The UK has proposed a new law to drop part of the Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland trade.