Hero police dog's posthumous award

A POLICE dog that died during a raid by anti-terror police on a home in Saint-Denis after the Paris attacks has been awarded a posthumous bravery award by a British animal charity.

Diesel, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd, was nominated for the Dickin Medal from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) after a campaign by The Sun newspaper.

The award is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross and has been given since 1943 to heroic animals.

Jan McLoughlin from PDSA told The Sun: "The Dickin Medal recognises conspicuous devotion to duty in the theatre of conflict and Diesel is a truly deserving recipient. We’re very proud to honour him."

Diesel had been working for the French anti-terrorism force RAID for five years and was due to retire in the spring.

The dog was shot dead when entering a house in Saint-Denis in a raid targeting Abdelhamid Abaaoud, one of the suspected organisers of the Paris terror attacks.

The death made international headlines - and prompted Russia to offer France a replacement, called Dobrynya.