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Trèbes attack: Paris ceremony for hero policeman Arnaud Beltrame Trèbes attack: Paris ceremony for hero policeman Arnaud Beltrame
(about 1 hour later)
A national memorial service is due to take place in honour of the French police officer who died saving the lives of hostages in a supermarket siege by an Islamist gunman. The French police officer who died after he offered himself in exchange for a hostage in an Islamist attack is being honoured in Paris.
Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame, 44, was killed after he traded places with one of the captives following a shooting spree in southern France on 23 March. Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame, 44, was one of four victims of a shooting spree in southern France on Friday.
His coffin will be taken through Paris ahead of the service at Les Invalides. He will be awarded France's highest accolade, the Legion d'Honneur, at a national memorial service later.
President Emmanuel Macron will lead the ceremony. President Emmanuel Macron said he "fell as a hero" after showing "exceptional courage and selflessness".
The French leader will deliver a eulogy in front of Col Beltrame's friends, family and colleagues as well as members of the public gathered to pay their respects. The officer's coffin is being taken through Paris to Les Invalides, where Mr Macron will deliver a eulogy in front of Col Beltrame's friends, family and colleagues.
On Saturday, he said the officer "fell as a hero" after showing "exceptional courage and selflessness" and deserved "the respect and admiration of the whole nation". A minute's silence has been held as members of the public gathered to pay their respects. His coffin will then travel back to Carcassone for the funeral.
A minute's silence will also be held and Col Beltrame will be posthumously awarded the country's highest accolade, the Legion d'honneur. 'He never gave up'
His coffin will then travel back to Carcassone for the funeral. Col Beltrame was a highly-regarded member of the Gendarmerie Nationale and was described by Mr Macron as someone who "fought until the end and never gave up" and deserved "the respect and admiration of the whole nation".
Col Beltrame was a highly-regarded member of the Gendarmerie Nationale and was described by Mr Macron as someone who "fought until the end and never gave up". His brother Cedric told a French radio station on Saturday: "He gave his life for strangers. He must have known that he didn't really have a chance. If that doesn't make him a hero, I don't know what would."
"He gave his life for strangers. He must have known that he didn't really have a chance. If that doesn't make him a hero, I don't know what would," his brother Cedric told a French radio station on Saturday. Col Beltrame's actions helped bring an end to the siege in a supermarket by 25-year-old Redouane Lakdim.
Col Beltrame's actions helped bring an end to the siege that left three people dead. The gunman had been on an extremist watch list and was known to authorities as a petty criminal, but intelligence services had determined he did not pose a threat. He was shot dead by police.
The gunman, 25-year-old Redouane Lakdim, had been on an extremist watch list and was known to authorities as a petty criminal, but intelligence services had determined he did not pose a threat. He was shot dead by police.
Sixteen people were injured, two seriously, in what was the worst jihadist attack under Mr Macron's presidency.Sixteen people were injured, two seriously, in what was the worst jihadist attack under Mr Macron's presidency.
Lakdim was said to have demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the most important surviving suspect in the 13 November 2015 attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people.Lakdim was said to have demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the most important surviving suspect in the 13 November 2015 attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people.
The attacker's girlfriend, who has not been named, is reportedly a convert to Islam who has been known to security services for at least a year.The attacker's girlfriend, who has not been named, is reportedly a convert to Islam who has been known to security services for at least a year.
On Tuesday, she was placed under formal investigation accused of "associating with terrorists preparing attacks" and remains in police custody.On Tuesday, she was placed under formal investigation accused of "associating with terrorists preparing attacks" and remains in police custody.
One other person, a 17-year-old friend of the gunman, was released on Monday after being questioned.One other person, a 17-year-old friend of the gunman, was released on Monday after being questioned.