Gunman jailed in high-speed train attack charged with terrorism

Member of belgian and french police stay next to a Thalys train at the Brussels Midi - Zuid train station, on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. Security has become more visible after an attack on Friday of a Thalys train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris. (AP Photo/Francois Walschaerts) (The Associated Press)

Police perform an investigation next to a Thalys train on a platform at Arras train station, northern France, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. A gunman prepared to open fire with an automatic weapon on a high-speed train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris Friday, wounding several people before being subdued by passengers, officials said. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

The Moroccan suspect in a foiled attack on a high-speed train is facing terrorism charges over what authorities say was a plan to unleash carnage among hundreds of passengers.

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed Wednesday that Ayoub El-Khazzani was charged overnight. El-Khazzani, 26, was tackled and tied up by at least five passengers, including three Americans and a Briton. El-Khazzani has denied terrorism plans and said he stumbled upon a bag of weapons and decided to rob passengers.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins has said El-Khazzani watched a jihadi video on his cell phone moments before his attack and that — although he claimed to be homeless — he used a first-class ticket.

Among the terrorism charges he faces are multiple counts of attempted murder, possession of weapons, and conspiracy.