The Malian grocery worker hailed as a hero for saving hostages' lives when an Islamist militant attacked a kosher supermarket in Paris this month was made a French citizen yesterday.

Lassana Bathily, 24, was joined by French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Prime Minister Manuel Valls in a packed naturalisation ceremony.

“I am so happy to get dual nationality,” said a smiling Bathily, who also received a medal for his actions.

“Long live freedom, long live solidarity, long live France, he added.”

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