France mourns hero gendarme who died after taking place of supermarket hostage

[Vergennes]

The French policeman who swapped himself for a hostage held by a jihadist gunmen has died of his wounds, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said Saturday.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame has passed away. He died for his country. France will never forget his heroism, his bravery, his sacrifice," the minister wrote on his Twitter account.

Beltrame was shot and stabbed after swapping himself for a hostage in a rampage and siege President Emmanuel Macron branded "an Islamist terrorist attack".

https://twitter.com/x/status/977405502740205568

He died of his wounds Saturday, becoming the gunman's fourth victim.

In a statement from the Elyséé presidential palace Emmanuel Macron also praised the "exceptional courage" of Beltrame.

"The President of the Republic has learned with great sadness the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame during the night from injuries received in the exercise of his mission.

"By offering himself as a hostage to the terrorist entrenched in the Trèbes supermarket, Lieutenant-Colonel Beltrame saved the life of a civil hostage, showing exceptional courage and exceptionality.

"At the heart of the action, Lieutenant-Colonel Beltrame has shown exceptional coolness and illustrated the military virtues in a vivid manner, which deserves the respect and admiration of the entire nation."

"Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame died in the service of the nation, to which he had already given so much. By giving his life to put an end to the murderous pursuit of a jihadist terrorist, he has fallen as a hero.

"The President of the Republic extends his most sincere condolences to his widow, his friends, and his brothers in arms. He calls every Frenchman to honor his memory."

https://twitter.com/x/status/977450177672957957

The gunman, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne.
Speaking at the scene on Friday Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11 a.m.

They managed to get some of the people out," he said, but the attacker kept one hostage back as a human shield.

Beltrame then offered to take the hostage's place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued.

The officer "left his telephone on the table", to allow police that had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants listen in, Collomb said.

"When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened," the minister said.

Beltrame's name was the top trend on Twitter on Saturday morning as people in France and beyond lined up to pay tribute.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20180324/hero-french-gendarme-who-swapped

Requiescat in pace. He will be never forgotten for what he did.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Respectful salute.

 

[Vergennes]

His mother said of him ;

"It does not surprise me. He has always been like that. It is someone, since he was born, who does everything for the country. He would say to me: "I'm doing my job, Mom, that's all". I'm not surprised, it's part of his way of being, to do his job as nobly as possible. "

 

[Cookie Monster]

Rest In Peace...much respect

 

[T-123456]

May he rest in peace.

 

[HannibalBarca]

RIP

 

[Jaanbaz]

RIP.

 

[Taygibay]

Un vrai mec! C'est devenu si rare ...

Tay.

 

[thesolar65]

Very difficult for anyone to put himself in his shoes, knowing for sure that death awaits him.
Rest in Peace.

 

[waz]

His mother said of him ;

"It does not surprise me. He has always been like that. It is someone, since he was born, who does everything for the country. He would say to me: "I'm doing my job, Mom, that's all". I'm not surprised, it's part of his way of being, to do his job as nobly as possible. "

View attachment 461467

What a wonderful solider, patriot and caring man. Rest in peace dear sir.....

I can only think of this fitting tribute in celtic.

 

[Maarkhoor]

He displays exceptional courage and humanism...He earned my salute and respect..what a wonderful human being...Islam says who save one human should be considered he saved humanity....
If Allah SWT give me chance I would like to replicate his sacrifice.

 

[xenon54 out]

RIP

 

[Nevsky]

A Hero!!!He will never be forgotten.

 

[pak-marine]

The French policeman who swapped himself for a hostage held by a jihadist gunmen has died of his wounds, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said Saturday.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame has passed away. He died for his country. France will never forget his heroism, his bravery, his sacrifice," the minister wrote on his Twitter account.

Beltrame was shot and stabbed after swapping himself for a hostage in a rampage and siege President Emmanuel Macron branded "an Islamist terrorist attack".

https://twitter.com/x/status/977405502740205568

He died of his wounds Saturday, becoming the gunman's fourth victim.

In a statement from the Elyséé presidential palace Emmanuel Macron also praised the "exceptional courage" of Beltrame.

"The President of the Republic has learned with great sadness the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame during the night from injuries received in the exercise of his mission.

"By offering himself as a hostage to the terrorist entrenched in the Trèbes supermarket, Lieutenant-Colonel Beltrame saved the life of a civil hostage, showing exceptional courage and exceptionality.

"At the heart of the action, Lieutenant-Colonel Beltrame has shown exceptional coolness and illustrated the military virtues in a vivid manner, which deserves the respect and admiration of the entire nation."

"Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame died in the service of the nation, to which he had already given so much. By giving his life to put an end to the murderous pursuit of a jihadist terrorist, he has fallen as a hero.

"The President of the Republic extends his most sincere condolences to his widow, his friends, and his brothers in arms. He calls every Frenchman to honor his memory."

https://twitter.com/x/status/977450177672957957

The gunman, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne.
Speaking at the scene on Friday Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11 a.m.

They managed to get some of the people out," he said, but the attacker kept one hostage back as a human shield.

Beltrame then offered to take the hostage's place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued.

The officer "left his telephone on the table", to allow police that had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants listen in, Collomb said.

"When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened," the minister said.

Beltrame's name was the top trend on Twitter on Saturday morning as people in France and beyond lined up to pay tribute.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20180324/hero-french-gendarme-who-swapped

Requiescat in pace. He will be never forgotten for what he did.

A very brave and courageous man .. respect sirs may u rest in peace and the perpetrator in Peaces

 

[Deliorman]

A real French hero who deserves nothing but respect. May he rest in peace in Paradise and God help him and his family.