The American heroes who stopped an attack on a train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris said they had a choice: do something or die.

Americans Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos along with Chris Norman, who is British, is crediting with stopping a Moroccan-born assailant who was armed with an automatic rifle and appeared intent on committing a terrorist attack, according to an NBC News report.

Skarlatos said he had a lot of ammunition and his intentions were clear, although the man’s lawyer later said he was only intended to rob the train. Stone said he appeared to be pulling weapons “left and right,” according to the report.

He apparently never said a word before cocking his AK-47, so the men knew they would need to do something or die, and that hiding or running away was not an option.

The men have been hailed by President Obama for their heroic actions.