Briton who helped overpower France train gunman 'thought he was going to die'

Updated

A British businessman said he helped three Americans overpower a gunman who opened fire on a train because he thought he was "probably going to die anyway".

IT consultant Chris Norman, 62, said he knew he was facing a terror attack "the moment that I stood up and saw a guy with an AK-47" on the Amsterdam-Paris train.

Mr Norman, a married grandfather-of-two, told a press conference in Arras, France: "My thought was 'OK I am probably going to die anyway so let's go'. I would rather die being active, trying to get him down than simply sit in the corner and be shot."

Mr Norman helped fellow hero passengers including US Air Force serviceman Spencer Stone, National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and Sacramento State University student Anthony Sadler to tackle the gunman, who was armed with an AK-47 and a handgun.

Mr Stone and Mr Skarlatos grabbed the man to bring him under control while Mr Sadler and Mr Norman joined them to help.

French rail firm SNCF said there were 554 people on board.

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