'Hero' Muslim employee who saved lives at Kosher supermarket in Paris praised for his courage as he is granted citizenship by France

Mali-born Lassana Bathily, 24, saved lives during Paris attacks

Kosher grocery employee turned off freezer and hid shoppers

He then sneaked out and helped police outside free the hostages

Bathily was granted French citizenship and praised for his 'heroism

The Muslim kosher supermarket employee who saved several shoppers lives during the Paris attack has been granted French citizenship.

Lassana Bathily, 24, was praised for his 'courage and heroism' by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve during a ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

Mr Cazeneuve said Mali-born Bathily's 'act of humanity has become a symbol of an Islam of peace and tolerance.'

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Selfless: When gunman Amedy Coulibaly entered the shop, Lassana Bathily turned off the freezer and hid shoppers inside before sneaking out and helping police free the hostages

Hero: Shop clerk Lassana Bathily who guided six shoppers to safety during the attack on the Paris Kosher grocery where he was working, has been granted French citizenship

Proud moment: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, left, and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, center, award citizenship to Lassana Bathily during a ceremony in Paris

'Tonight I'm very proud and deeply touched,' Mr Bathily, who went to school in Paris, said with tears in his eyes.

He humbly stressed that he does not consider himself a hero, saying: 'I am Lassana. I'll stay true to myself.'

'People are all equal to me and skin color isn't a matter. France is the country of human rights,' he added.

Mr Bathily was in the store's underground stockroom when gunman Amedy Coulibaly burst in to the Hyper Cacher supermarket in Porte de Vincennes, Paris, on January 9 and killed four people.

The 24-year-old guided terrified customers to safety in a supermarket chiller and has since been praised around the world for his quick-thinking and bravery.

Malian Muslim Lassana Bathily is given French citizenship

Humble: Mr Bathily, a Mali-born Muslim who has been living in France since 2006, stressed that he is not a hero during his emotional acceptance speech

Their saviour: This image, taken by one of the hostages themselves, shows the scene inside a freezer to where shoppers, including several children, had been guided by Mr Bathily

Departure: The hostages escape the supermarket after police storm the building during the attack

Bloody end: This was the moment police stormed the supermarket, killing fanatic Amedy Coulibaly who had an AK-47 and a bulletproof vest

Mr Bathily, who reportedly led six people to safety, told BFMTV: 'When they ran down, I opened the door [of the freezer].

'There are several people who came to me. I turned off the light, I turned off the freezer.

'When I turned off the cold, I put them [hostages] in, I closed the door, I told them to stay calm.'

Using a goods lift he escaped and was able to give the police valuable information about what was happening inside and where the hostages were hiding.

Shy and reluctant to tell his story, Mr Bathily, who went to school in Paris, admitted that after the shoot-out many of the customers came to shake his hand and thank him for what he did.

Bathily has lived in France since 2006, attending school in the capital

He had filed an application for French citizenship last year.

Bravery recognised: Mr Bathily meets the US Secretary of State John Kerry after a press conference at Paris City Hall last week