The Malian Muslim who hid shoppers from an Islamist gunman during his attack on a kosher supermarket will be given French nationality, the French Interior Ministry has said.
Shop assistant Lassana Bathily, 24, hid several people in the freezer of Jewish supermarket in Porte de Vincennes, turned off the light and told them to stay calm after gunman Amedy Coulibaly shot hostages.
He then escaped to find help and was able to tell police what was happening inside the store.
‘I helped Jews. We’re all brothers,’ he told BFM TV.
‘It’s not a question of Jews, Christians or Muslims. We’re all in the same boat.’
A petition was launched after the public learned of his bravery and the Interior Ministry fast-tracked his application.
‘Following the acts of bravery by Mr Bathily during the hostage taking in the Hyper Casher market on Jan. 9, the Interior Ministry has fast-tracked (his) request for citizenship,’ said a spokesperson.
An official ceremony was held on 20 January.
17 people were killed in three days of violence last week.
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