French Politician Arrested for Cheering Death of Hero Cop

Tweets got him kicked out of far-left party
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 26, 2018 2:34 AM CDT
French Politician Arrested for Cheering Death of Hero Cop
This image posted on Saturday, March 24, 2018 by the Gendarmerie Nationale on it's Facebook account shows a portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame.   (Gendarmerie Nationale via AP)

A far-left French politician who celebrated the death of a heroic police officer has been arrested and chucked out of the "France Unbowed" party. Stephane Poussier tweeted that the death of Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame, who traded places with a hostage held by an Islamic extremist, was "great" and meant there was one less voter for French President Emmanuel Macron, the BBC reports. According to the French media, Poussier, who stood unsuccessfully for the party led by Jean-Luc Melenchon in last year's elections, could be charged with apologizing for terrorism, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $120,000 fine.

Poussier said that every time a police officer is killed, it reminds him of a friend who died when police threw a concussion grenade during protests in 2014. Beltrame is considered a national hero for his actions after the gunman stormed a supermarket Friday and Poussier's remarks were widely condemned, with his party calling them "shameful and abject" and announcing his expulsion. The 44-year-old officer, who died from stab wounds, was honored at a church service attended by both Christians and Muslims Sunday, the Telegraph reports. Flowers and message of support were left at police stations across the country. Three other people were killed in the Trebes attack, which has been claimed by ISIS. (More France stories.)

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