Victims honoured - as is James Bond

FIFTEEN victims of last January's Paris terror attacks - and two survivors - have been awarded the Légion d'Honneur, in the latest round of honours in which more than 600 people are recognised in total, including a man named James Bond.

Charlie Hebdo cartoonists Charb, Cabu, Honoré and Tignous, editorialist Elsa Cayat, journalist Michel Renaud, maintenance worker Frédéric Boisseau and sub-editor Mustapha Ourrad were among those killed at the satirical newspaper's offices on January 7. Two other victims from Charlie Hebdo, Georges Wolinski and Bernard Maris, already had the Légion d'Honneur before they were killed in the attacks.

Four hostages killed in the Hyper Cacher siege two days later are also on the list: Philippe Braham, Yohan Cohen, Yoav Hattab and François Michel Saada, as are police officers Franck Brinsolaro, Ahmet Merabet and Clarissa Jean-Philippe.

The two survivors recognised in the list are Michel Catalano and Lilian Lepère, who were held hostage by the Kouachi brothers at a printworks on the outskirts of Paris.

Also receiving the Légion d'Honneur are three people caught up in the foiled Thalys attack in August. They are driver Eric Tanty, conductor Michel Bruet and Franco-American academic Mark Moogalian, who intervened to stop the gunman. Three Americans and a Briton who also overpowered the assailant on-board were already given the Légion d'Honneur in August.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Lionel Jospin receives the Légion d'Honneur this year, as do singer Vanessa Paradis and French film stars Emmanuelle Béart and Emmanuelle Bercot.

James Bond is on the list - although this James Bond is recognised for his role as senior advisor to the executive director of the Green Climate Fund.

The Légion d'Honneur, created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, is France's highest honour and is awarded three times a year - at easter, July 14 and the New Year - with equal quotas for men and women. So far 93,000 people have been awarded.
Photo: Fdutil