An Oregon Army National Guardsman and a U.S. Air Force serviceman traveling in Europe were identified as military members who stopped a gunman on a train headed for Paris.
Alek Skarlatos, of Roseburg, and his lifelong friend Spencer Stone were on the high-speed train out of Amsterdam when they noticed a suspicious passenger and confronted him, according to Skarlatos' stepmother, Karen Skarlatos.
As NPR reports, the man — identified as Sliman Hamzi, 26, of Morocco — was armed with an assault rifle, a semi-automatic pistol and a knife. Three people were injured, including Stone, who Karen Skarlatos said was cut by the knife several times.
Skarlatos and Stone helped to subdue Hamzi on the train. Authorities were then informed and waiting when they arrived at the station.
"He's strong, he's brave and I'm not surprised that he would respond like this in this kind of situation," said Karen. "It of course upset me a lot, and I've been very teary eyed about it because it could have gone the other way. It makes me very proud of both of them, and very thankful to God that it turned out the way it did."
Oregon military officials did not immediately confirm Skarlatos' identity as the Oregon solider involved in the incident.
The Associated Press reports that Hamzi was detained in Arras in northern France, where Stone was reportedly hospitalized with serious wounds.
The attack took place at 3:45 p.m. GMT while the Thalys train was passing through Belgium, according to a statement from the office President Francois Hollande. Hollande said he's spoken with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, and the two leaders pledged to cooperate closely on the investigation.
"While the investigation into the attack is in its early stages, it is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy," President Obama said in a statement Friday.
Skarlatos and Stone have known each other since they were they were children, according to Karen Skarlatos.
Alek Skarlatos had returned from a tour in Afghanistan in July, and was scheduled to return to the United States from his European vacation early next month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.