Paris, Aug 22 (IANS): French President Francois Hollande thanked three American men and hailed them as heroes for overpowering an assailant who attacked a train in France, injuring three passengers, the media reported on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Moroccan man on Friday attacked the high speed Thalys train enroute from Amsterdam to Paris injuring three passengers before he was arrested in Arras city station with the help of three American men, reported BBC.

One of the Americans said they took an AK-47 assault rifle and a handgun from the attacker as they saw him walk down the aisle of the train.

Two of the Americans who overpowered the gunman, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos, are members of the Air Force and the National Guard respectively.

Hollande had thanked the men by telephone and will meet them in the coming days, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a press conference.

The Americans were awarded medals for bravery by authorities in Arras.

Cazeneuve said the suspect's identity has not been confirmed yet.