Photo of Lassana Bathily labelled Malian Muslim goes viral on social media as symbol of people united against terrorism
A Muslim shop assistant has been hailed a hero after saving at least six people by hiding them in a walk-in freezer at the Jewish grocery store besieged by an Islamist gunman.
Lassana Bathily, 24, originally from Mali in West Africa, ushered customers into the cold store at the Hyper Cacher supermarket in Porte de Vincennes on Friday, where Ahmedi Couibaly had taken a number of people hostage.
The siege ended when police raided the shop, shooting him dead. Four hostages also died.
However, according to reports, the toll might have been much worse if it were not for Bathily’s quick thinking.
“I went down to the freezer, I opened the door, there were several people who went in with me. I turned off the light and the freezer,” he told the French television station BFMTV.
“I brought them inside and I told them to stay calm… When they got out, they thanked me.”
He reportedly slipped away using a goods lift and was able to provide police with valuable information about what has happening inside the store.
The terrified customers were also able to telephone police from their hiding place in the basement.
An image of Bathily is trending on Twitter, labelled Malian Muslim, shared as a symbol of the people united against terrorism.
It is the latest example of heroism to emerge from the bloodshed.
Johan Dorre, a father of four, was shopping when the attack happened. He was able to telephone relatives and relay messages.
His uncle Jacob Katorza told The Daily Mail, “Johan and the others were terrified that they would be discovered by the terrorists and were forced to huddle together like frightened animals to avoid hypothermia.”
Jewish community members held a vigil on Saturday for the four victims.
France has western Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim populations, which have seen increasing tensions in recent months.