This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/paris-activists-protests-kung-fu-cop-video-france-kevin-philippy-promoted-decorated-a7042001.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| French police officer dubbed 'Kung-Fu cop' decorated and promoted after car was torched by Paris activists | French police officer dubbed 'Kung-Fu cop' decorated and promoted after car was torched by Paris activists |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The driver of a police car torched by hard left activists in Paris last week has been decorated and promoted from trainee to full police officer – despite having just failed his exams. | The driver of a police car torched by hard left activists in Paris last week has been decorated and promoted from trainee to full police officer – despite having just failed his exams. |
| Kevin Philippy, 28, was dubbed the “kung fu cop” by French social media, after footage of the horrific attack showed him deftly evading blows from a masked assailant wielding an iron bar. | Kevin Philippy, 28, was dubbed the “kung fu cop” by French social media, after footage of the horrific attack showed him deftly evading blows from a masked assailant wielding an iron bar. |
| Mr Philippy, an “adjoint de sécurité”, or probationary police officer, reached for his gun before deciding better of it and walking calmly away from the blazing car. | Mr Philippy, an “adjoint de sécurité”, or probationary police officer, reached for his gun before deciding better of it and walking calmly away from the blazing car. |
| In a ceremony at the French interior ministry, attended by President François Hollande, he was given the “gold internal security medal”, the highest French police award. His companion in the traffic patrol car, Alison Barthélémy, received the same medal. | In a ceremony at the French interior ministry, attended by President François Hollande, he was given the “gold internal security medal”, the highest French police award. His companion in the traffic patrol car, Alison Barthélémy, received the same medal. |
| The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, announced that Mr Philippy, would immediately be promoted to “guardian of the peace”, or full police officer, despite having recently failed his entrance exam. | The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, announced that Mr Philippy, would immediately be promoted to “guardian of the peace”, or full police officer, despite having recently failed his entrance exam. |
| “What made me extremely proud was your extreme self-control,” Mr Cazeneuve said. “(Here was) a police officer who was strong in his own personality and values not just strong because he had a gun.” | “What made me extremely proud was your extreme self-control,” Mr Cazeneuve said. “(Here was) a police officer who was strong in his own personality and values not just strong because he had a gun.” |
| Mr Philippy, a tall, well-built, black man, who was still wearing a medical neck brace, said after the ceremony: “Many of my colleagues suffer far worse. They are the heroes, not me.” | Mr Philippy, a tall, well-built, black man, who was still wearing a medical neck brace, said after the ceremony: “Many of my colleagues suffer far worse. They are the heroes, not me.” |
| The attack happened last Wednesday close to a demonstration called by police unions against what they called “la haine anti-flic” – anti-cop hatred. This followed a series of violent assaults on police officers by a fringe of hard-left and anarchist activists during demonstrations in the last two months against proposed reforms in French labour law. | The attack happened last Wednesday close to a demonstration called by police unions against what they called “la haine anti-flic” – anti-cop hatred. This followed a series of violent assaults on police officers by a fringe of hard-left and anarchist activists during demonstrations in the last two months against proposed reforms in French labour law. |
| A group of 300 hard left protestors were refused permission to hold a counter demonstration alleging police violence. A group of 15 of them surrounded a police traffic patrol car in a nearby street. | A group of 300 hard left protestors were refused permission to hold a counter demonstration alleging police violence. A group of 15 of them surrounded a police traffic patrol car in a nearby street. |
| In a video which has been viewed 10,000,000 times on the internet, several masked and hooded young men are seen attacking the car with iron bars and bollards torn from the pavement. A smoke bomb or Molotov cocktail is thrown through the smashed rear window of the car which catches fire. | In a video which has been viewed 10,000,000 times on the internet, several masked and hooded young men are seen attacking the car with iron bars and bollards torn from the pavement. A smoke bomb or Molotov cocktail is thrown through the smashed rear window of the car which catches fire. |
| Passsers-by, or unmasked demonstators, help the two police officers from their vehicle. Mr Philippy is then seen being attacked by a masked man with an iron bar. | Passsers-by, or unmasked demonstators, help the two police officers from their vehicle. Mr Philippy is then seen being attacked by a masked man with an iron bar. |
| A cardboard sign was found nearby which read in French “Roast chicken going free”. Poulet or chicken is one of the French slang words for cop. | A cardboard sign was found nearby which read in French “Roast chicken going free”. Poulet or chicken is one of the French slang words for cop. |
| Four members of a militant anti-fascist group arrested on Friday have been formally accused of attempted murder and placed in detention. A fifth man has been released. | Four members of a militant anti-fascist group arrested on Friday have been formally accused of attempted murder and placed in detention. A fifth man has been released. |
| The four suspects, identified from the video and from police intelligence, include three students aged from 18 to 21, two of whom are brothers. The fourth is a 31 years trainee school assistant. | The four suspects, identified from the video and from police intelligence, include three students aged from 18 to 21, two of whom are brothers. The fourth is a 31 years trainee school assistant. |
| Three of the men were known to the authorities and had been subject to orders banning the from leaving home on Thursday during the police demonstration. The banning orders had been lifted by a magistrate on appeal. | Three of the men were known to the authorities and had been subject to orders banning the from leaving home on Thursday during the police demonstration. The banning orders had been lifted by a magistrate on appeal. |