Is 15 17 to Paris a True Story?

By Robert Palmer

Have you watched the movie “15:17 to Paris” and wondered if it’s based on a true story? The answer is yes! The events depicted in the movie did actually happen in real life.

The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the story of three American friends, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler, who stopped a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris in 2015. The trio were on vacation in Europe when they found themselves in the middle of a life-threatening situation.

The Attack
On August 21, 2015, a heavily armed man named Ayoub El-Khazzani boarded a train from Amsterdam to Paris with the intention of carrying out an attack. El-Khazzani was armed with an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and a box cutter.

He opened fire on passengers but was quickly tackled by Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos. Anthony Sadler also helped subdue El-Khazzani.

The Heroes
Spencer Stone was an Air Force staff sergeant at the time of the attack. He had recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan and was traveling with his friends.

Stone was the first to react to the threat and charged at El-Khazzani despite being unarmed. He suffered multiple injuries during the altercation but managed to disarm El-Khazzani.

Alek Skarlatos was a member of the National Guard and had recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan as well. Skarlatos joined Stone in tackling El-Khazzani and together they managed to control him until authorities arrived.

Anthony Sadler was a student at Sacramento State University at the time of the incident. While he didn’t physically subdue El-Khazzani like his friends did, he played an important role in disarming him by grabbing his weapon.

The Aftermath
The three friends were hailed as heroes for their actions on the train. In addition to being awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award, they were also invited to the White House by then-President Barack Obama.

The events of that day have been widely covered by the media and even inspired a book written by the heroes themselves. The movie “15:17 to Paris” was based on their book and featured Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler playing themselves in the film.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “15:17 to Paris” is a true story based on the heroic actions of three American friends who stopped a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris. The bravery and selflessness of Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler are an inspiration to us all.