Suspect in stabbing of American who foiled French terror attack captured, police say

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The man wanted for allegedly stabbing Spencer Stone -- the American serviceman who helped foil a terrorist attack in France this summer -- was arrested by California authorities Wednesday, officials said.

Sacramento police identified the suspect as James Tran, and said he was arrested Wednesday morning near his home in Elk Grove -- a suburb of the state capital.

"Detectives interviewed a number of witnesses and received information from the community that ultimately led to the identification of suspect Tran," Sacramento police said in a news release.

Investigators believe he is responsible for the Oct. 8 assault on Stone, 23, who was injured at a midtown Sacramento nightclub after an altercation between his friends and another group. Stone, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, was stabbed four times.

Stone's injuries required emergency surgery, but he has since recovered. Tran, 28, now faces a charge of attempted murder, police said.

A police representative reportedly said Tran, a suspected gang member, has a prior felony arrest.

"It is a great day for the city of Sacramento," the city's police chief, Sam Somers, said following Tran's arrest.

Authorities said although Tran was arrested, their investigation into Stone's stabbing continues, possibly for additional suspects. Police have previously said "assailants" fled the scene after Stone was attacked.

"The police have been unbelievable," Stone's mother, Joyce Eskel, said. "We are very happy the police worked as hard as they did."

Stone was traveling on a French train on Aug. 21 with two comrades when they subdued a gunman who police say intended to attack the passengers on board with an AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol and box-cutter.

Stone and his American friends -- Anthony Sadler, 23, and Alek Skarlatos, 22 -- a British citizen and two French citizens foiled the attack by overpowering the gunman before he could fully launch the rampage, officials said.

The men, who were among 554 passengers aboard the Thalys train headed from Amsterdam to Paris, were awarded France's Legion D'Honeur -- that nation's highest civilian commendation -- for their efforts in thwarting what might have been a very deadly attack.

The Americans, two of whom are military servicemen, were also honored by President Barack Obama at the White House in September.

Moroccan native Ayoub El Khazzani, 25, who was already known to French authorities as a potential terrorist, has been charged in the failed plot.