Francois Hollande to give 'France's highest award to train heroes today'

Paris: French President Francois Hollande will present three Americans and a Briton with the country's top Legion d'Honneur medal on Monday in recognition of their bravery in stopping a gunman on a packed train, an Elysee source said.

A French citizen who also tackled the suspected jihadist, but wishes to remain anonymous, is to receive the honour at a later date, as will a Franco-American passenger recovering from being shot during the attack, the source said.

The Legion d'Honneur, France's highest accolade, was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is awarded in recognition of both civil and military achievements.

The train passengers are to be awarded the Chevalier de l'ordre national de la Legion d'Honneur, or Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, US Ambassador to France Jane Hartley and members of France's government including Prime Minister Manuel Valls are all expected to attend the award ceremony.

Alleged gunman Ayoub El Khazzani opened fire on a Paris-bound train on Friday, injuring a man before being wrestled to the floor and subdued by Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler and Briton Chris Norman.

The 25-year-old Moroccan national has denied that he intended to carry out a terror attack, claiming he only planned to rob the passengers on the train.