FRANCE-TRAIN/SECURITY Thalys passengers at Paris' Gare du Nord feel safe despite Friday train shooting

Record ID: 142792

  • Title: FRANCE-TRAIN/SECURITY Thalys passengers at Paris' Gare du Nord feel safe despite Friday train shooting
  • Date: 24th August 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 24, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF GARE DU NORD TRAIN STATION VARIOUS INTERIORS OF GARE DU NORD TRAIN STATION WITH THALYS TRAIN AT PLATFORM (SOUNDBITE) (English) THALYS PASSENGER FROM BELGIUM, LAURA, SAYING: "They were double checking the tickets and then there were security on the train, on the Thalys. They were walking all the time. It's ok. It was a safe feeling." TRAIN PASSENGERS WAITING FOR TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM THE U.S., LINDA MIKULICH, 65, SAYING: "No, I am not afraid to travel, I mean things happen and they happen everywhere and you can't let the terrorists make all of us afraid. We have to move forward and go on with our lives." TRAVELLERS WITH SUITCASES OUTSIDE GARE DU NORD TRAIN STATION TRAIN STATION PLATFORMS WITH TRAIN ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE SCREENS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, KARL SAFFRE, 41, SAYING: "I wouldn't really like people to look inside my suitcases. I wouldn't be against security gates if they want to put security gates, but it will increase the waiting time so, is it necessary for a country like France? I don't know actually." THALYS TRAIN AT PLATFORM (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM THE U.S., SAM CULLAN, 61, SAYING: "I don't think you can protect against everything so probably it (more security measure) is probably not worth all the expense. So I think it is probably good the way it is." TOURISTS LOADING LUGGAGE IN TAXI THALYS TRAIN TRAVELLERS WALKING AND THALYS AT PLATFORM
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA2WUUQN7O5MG09FSRR7CHKXOI
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thalys passengers and train travellers at Paris' Gare du Nord train station said on Monday (August 24) they felt safe despite Friday train shooting on a high-speed Amsterdam-to-Paris Thalys service near Arras in the north of France.
    A 26-year-old Moroccan man was arrested after he was disarmed by three Americans and a British passengers who saw him with an AK-47 assault rifle and a handgun on board of the train.
    Train passengers witnessed more security than usual on the Thalys on Monday and said they felt very secure.
    "They were double checking the tickets and then there were security on the train, on the Thalys. They were walking all the time. It's ok. It was a safe feeling," said Belgian passenger Laura, who took the Thalys train on Monday morning from Brussels to Paris.
    American tourist Linda Mikulich said she would not let terror attacks discourage her from travelling by train or plane.
    "No, I am not afraid to travel, I mean things happen and they happen everywhere and you can't let the terrorists make all of us afraid. We have to move forward and go on with our lives," she told Reuters Television as she arrived to Gare du Nord with the train from Charles de Gaulle airport.
    Train travellers said they didn't feel the need for additional security and controls to be implemented at train access or inside train stations.
    "I wouldn't really like people to look inside my suitcases. I wouldn't be against security gates if they want to put security gates, but it will increase the waiting time so, is it necessary for a country like France? I don't know actually," said Parisian Karl Saffre, who was about to take the train to Lille.
    "I don't think you can protect against everything so probably it (more security measure) is probably not worth all the expense. So I think it is probably good the way it is," said traveller from the U.S. Sam Cullan.
    French President Francois Hollande on Monday awarded France's highest honour, the Legion d'honneur, to the three U.S. citizens and the Briton who helped disarm the machine gun-toting suspected Islamist militant.
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