People use #JeSuisChien to honour police dog killed in Paris raid
Canine honoured with photos of dogs with French flags
Twitter users are mourning the news of a French police dog named Diesel killed in the early morning raids on the Saint-Denis neighbourhood north of Paris.
Police Nationale, France's national police force, confirmed the death of the Belgian Malinois on its Twitter account shortly after the operation ended.
The force said in a series of tweets that the seven-year-old dog was killed "by terrorists" during the raid. Diesel was assisting police in the "indispensable" task of looking for explosives.
The initial tweet spread widely and has been retweeted more than 14,000 times.
Les chiens d'assaut et de recherche d'explosifs: indispensables dans les missions des opérateurs du <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RAID?src=hash">#RAID</a> <a href="https://t.co/vb5lGjnwjO">pic.twitter.com/vb5lGjnwjO</a>
—@PNationaleNews of Diesel's death sparked the use of the hashtags #JeSuisChien and #JeSuisDiesel, with Twitter users paying tribute to the fallen canine.
Both take inspiration from a similar hashtag used in the wake of January's attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices — #JeSuisCharlie.
All dogs go to heaven. Thank you for your service. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPDiesel?src=hash">#RIPDiesel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> ❤️
—@zolisMany pointed out how valuable dogs can be in dangerous police operations.
To all law enforcement who put their lives on the line- thank you. Thank you Diesel- not all who are brave have only two legs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a>
—@HowardTKatzNot all heroes are human 🐕 RIP Diesel <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> ❤
—@WhatKaySaidSome paid tribute by tweeting photos of their dogs.
Thinking of Diesel, his family, coworkers, and the people of France today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jesuischien?src=hash">#jesuischien</a> <a href="https://t.co/3Ff0l9uKa9">pic.twitter.com/3Ff0l9uKa9</a>
—@jayk0523Rip diesel <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Diesel?src=hash">#Diesel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> <a href="https://t.co/zYH00Zivyo">pic.twitter.com/zYH00Zivyo</a>
—@NicoleFlynn14<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> and so sad... <a href="https://t.co/T3uzTAcSyQ">pic.twitter.com/T3uzTAcSyQ</a>
—@MahaloKonaOthers draped their dogs in French flags.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> <a href="https://t.co/j8bKmc2nF6">pic.twitter.com/j8bKmc2nF6</a>
—@zalewski_kevinHommage entre chiens A Diesel... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> <a href="https://t.co/9TQud5QXqZ">pic.twitter.com/9TQud5QXqZ</a>
—@ManuBressetEn hommage à Diesel. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> ❤🐶 <a href="https://t.co/3TTfXBYzPi">pic.twitter.com/3TTfXBYzPi</a>
—@jesuischien<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisDiesel?src=hash">#JeSuisDiesel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisParis?src=hash">#JeSuisParis</a> <a href="https://t.co/4CnrqEzSMo">pic.twitter.com/4CnrqEzSMo</a>
—@RyanHeitnerOne user even paid homage to Anonymous.
The group is fighting against ISIS, which claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.
Expect us <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> <a href="https://t.co/NRcfx1zsbs">pic.twitter.com/NRcfx1zsbs</a>
—@PochinekoOthers did not think the hashtag is appropriate...
SMH Seriously? This hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a>
—@RRubayizaThat <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> hashtag is seriously overkill...
—@EliseVDB1...particularly given the severity of the various deadly events of the past few days.
Terrorist attack kills 30+ Nigerians yesterday and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jesuischien?src=hash">#jesuischien</a> is trending.... *facepalm*
—@MattWoj<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisChien?src=hash">#JeSuisChien</a> Seriously?? You're trending this bc of a dog? But you ignore all the people who died in syria lebanon palestine ? Wow
—@justzaynBut most were just happy Diesel was getting some recognition too.
The news about the police dog Diesel is breaking my heart, but I'm so glad that she is getting the recognition she deserves. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPDiesel?src=hash">#RIPDiesel</a>
—@VictoriaWardmanLoyal to the end <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPDiesel?src=hash">#RIPDiesel</a> <a href="https://t.co/x0kVu0pJbJ">pic.twitter.com/x0kVu0pJbJ</a>
—@PcBourne