French-American honored for helping thwart 2015 train attack

September 22, 2016 at 6:41 p.m. | Updated September 22, 2016 at 6:45 p.m.

by Associated Press

Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism, right, and French-American Mark Mooligan listen to the speech of France's President Francois Hollande, prior to being awarded the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, on a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool)
Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism, right, and French-American Mark Mooligan listen to the speech of France's President Francois Hollande, prior to being awarded the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, on a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool)

PARIS (AP) - President Francois Hollande has bestowed a Legion of Honor award on a French-American who was among passengers who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle.

Mark Moogalian, 52, was honored on Thursday at the Elysee Palace. He was hospitalized when three Americans and a British man who overpowered Moroccan suspect, Ayoub El-Khazzani, were honored.

Moogalian grabbed an assault rifle from El-Khazzani then was shot with a handgun.

Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, U.S. Army Spc. Alek Skarlatos, their friend Anthony Sadler and Briton Chris Norman received the honor in August 2015, shortly after the drama. A Frenchman who asked to remain anonymous also was honored.

Moogalian, a musician and teacher, has lived in France for more than two decades.

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