Thalys train attacker, thwarted by Americans, goes on trial in Paris

FILE PHOTO: Belgian police officers stand guard on a platform at the Thalys high-speed train terminal at Brussels Midi/Zuid railway station, August 22, 2015. A machine gun-toting attacker wounded three people on a high-speed train in France on Friday before being overpowered by passengers who included an American soldier. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - A suspected Islamist gunman who opened fire aboard a high-speed train travelling through northern Europe but was overpowered by three U.S. citizens before he killed anyone goes on trial on Monday in the French capital.

Moroccan national Ayoub el Khazzani was heavily armed when he launched his attack moments after the train crossed into France from Belgium on Aug. 21, 2015.