Ahmed Merabet: Police Officer Executed In ‘Charlie Hebdo’ Terrorist Attack Was Muslim
Ahmed Marabet was executed at point blank range by Islamist terrorists during the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo, a killing that was caught on a graphic video.
Now reports have emerged that Marabet was Muslim himself. The police officer was assigned to the 11th arrondissement, the neighborhood where Charlie Hebdo‘s office is located.
On Wednesday, hooded gunmen stormed into the offices of the French satirical magazine, which in the past has criticized violent Islamists. The gunmen killed 12 people before escaping onto the streets of Paris, though Paris Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman said three of the terrorists have been identified.
Not long after the incident, video of the Charlie Hebdo shooting emerged on the Internet, with a camera from a few floors above the street capturing two gunmen in a shootout with a police officer. One masked man, holding a high-powered rifle, is seen advancing toward Ahmed Marabet, who has been shot and is lying on the ground in pain.
He was also heard begging for his life. After the gunman yelled “Tu voulais nous/me tuer?” which translates roughly to: “You wanted to kill us/me,” the officer answered “Nan c’est bon chef!” which told the gunmen that he was unable to fight and they did not need to kill him.
The terrorist fired a running shot toward the police officer’s head, and the officer then fell motionless. The two then got into a black car and drove away.
In the hours after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, French officials vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
“Everything will be done to arrest (the attackers),” French President Francois Hollande said in a speech Wednesday night.
“… We also have to protect all public places. Security forces will be deployed everywhere there can be the beginning” of a threat.”
Officials also named Thursday a day of remembrance for those killed.
French officials said they have identified the attackers, who are 34, 32 and 18 and hail from a Paris suburb.
A full story about the execution of Paris police officer, including link to graphic video of the Charlie Hebdo attack, can be found here.