France holds memorial service for ‘hero’ police officer

France is holding a national memorial service today in honour of the police officer who was killed after trading places with a hostage in a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant.

Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 44, voluntarily took the place of a woman being held captive in the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trèbes on Friday.

He had a call running on his mobile phone throughout the attack to allow police units to monitor the situation.

Colleagues say he had hoped to negotiate once all the shoppers and staff had been taken to safety, but the gunman, Redouane Lakdim, shot and stabbed him.

Beltrame later died of his injuries.

Three others were killed and 15 injured in the attack by Lakdim, who hijacked a car and shot a police officer before storming the supermarket.

Beltrame's coffin will be taken through Paris today, ahead of the memorial service at Les Invalides.

The service will be a “hommage national” — a ceremony ordered by the president that is usually reserved for military figures who have offered exceptional service to the nation.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has hailed Beltrame as a hero, will lead the service, delivering a eulogy in front of the officer's family, friends and colleagues as well as members of the public.

SOURCE: euronews
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