French Investigators Seek Motive as Gunman Denies Terrorism
French forensics police officers inspect the crime scene in a Thalys train of French national railway operator SNCF at the main train station in Arras on August 22.
Photographer: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty ImagesFrench investigators are trying to figure out why gunman Ayoub El-Khazzani attacked a train headed to Paris as he denies links to terrorism despite police across Europe flagging him as a radical Islamist.
There’s no hint of religious motive or affiliation to a radical organization in the 25-year-old Moroccan’s statements, according to to a French official with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because of government policy. He’s being questioned near Paris after his attack on a train from Amsterdam was foiled Friday by passengers including U.S. soldiers on vacation. Police must hand the suspect off to the courts by Wednesday, the official said.