Ahmed Merabet, slain Paris policeman in street, was ‘brave Muslim’ who was married

The police officer who was slain in the streets of Paris — Ahmed Merabet, 42 — was a married man who was also Muslim.

The officer, shown on video sprawled in the streets by the Charlie Hebdo newspaper officers, was shot and killed with a gunshot to his head. Witnesses said he asked his assailant, “Do you want to kill me?” And the gunman reportedly replied, “OK, chief,” and fired, the Daily Mail reported.

Merabet was assigned to patrol the Paris neighborhood where the newspaper is located. One French mourner wrote on social media: “Ahmed Merabet died protecting the innocent from hate. I salute him,” the Daily Mail said.

And others penned their own tributes.

“RIP Ahmed Merabet, French policeman, murdered protecting people in Paris,” one wrote, the Daily Mail said.

Another: “Important to note that amid the carnage today a brave Muslim policeman was murdered by those claiming to represent Islam.”

The other police officer who was killed in the terrorist attack — that left a total of 12 dead — was Franck Brinsolaro, 49, who served as a guard for the Charlie Hebdo’s editor, Stephane Charbonnier. Brinsolaro lived in Bernay and was the married father of two children, the Daily Mail reported.