Trump tweets solidarity with France after extremist attack

President Trump on Saturday tweeted support for France and the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, after a terrorist attack in Trèbes on Friday in which four people were killed and others injured.

A police officer and two others were killed after a gunman with known links to radical Islamic terror groups stormed a supermarket and took hostages. The suspect also killed one person earlier in the day while stealing a car, CNN and other news organizations reported.

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The accused gunman, Moroccan-born French national Radouane Lakdim, died after exchanging gunfire with police on the scene.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrible attack in France yesterday, and we grieve the nation’s loss. We also condemn the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support,” the president tweeted Saturday. “We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrible attack in France yesterday, and we grieve the nation’s loss. We also condemn the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support. We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2018

One police officer, Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame, died Saturday after being shot by the attacker. Beltrame had exchanged himself for a female hostage’s release. Macron and other French authorities lauded Beltrame as a hero on Friday.

“Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame died in the service of the nation to which he had already contributed so much,” Macron said in a statement Saturday after Beltrame’s death. “By giving his life to end the murderous escapade of a jihadist terrorist, he died a hero.”

“His leadership skills, his willingness, his unfailing commitment were appreciated by everyone, especially in the development of counterterrorism capacity in the Aude police force,” Macron added.