It's been revealed that the French police officer who offered himself up to an Islamic extremist gunman in exchange for a hostage was a Christian.
Col Arnaud Beltrame, 44, was among the first officers to respond to the attack on the supermarket in the south of France on Friday.
It's been reported that Beltrame became dedicated to his Christian faith in his 30s and was due to have a church wedding in three months after already having a civil ceremony.
The priest that was supposed to officiate the ceremony in June married the couple on Beltrame's death bed instead, before he died on Saturday.
He was shot three times by the gunman.
A church in the town of Trebe held a special Palm Sunday church service to honour the heroic police officer and three other people killed in the gun rampage by an Islamic extremist.
A national memorial is being held on Wednesday in Paris to honour Beltrame.
Attacker Radouane Lakdim was killed when police stormed the building. Two people remain in custody as the investigation continues.
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Article by Tola Mbakwe
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
