The Australian Prime Minister says the man who used a bollard to slow down the killer during the Sydney mall attacks will be offered a permanent visa in Australia.
It comes after Anthony Albanese applauded the bravery of French citizen Damien Guerot during the stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction Westfield over the weekend.
Six people were killed in the attack on Saturday, and several others injured.
Guerot confronted 40-year-old Joel Cauchi during his deadly stabbing rampage, with video footage showing him waving a bollard around at Cauchi on an escalator.
The video quickly went viral on social media, earning him the title 'Bollard Man'.
Speaking with media on Tuesday, Albanese discussed the status of Guerot's Australian citizenship.
"I say this to Damien, who is dealing with his visa application, that you are welcome here, you are welcome to stay for as long as you like," he said.
"This is someone who we would welcome becoming an Australian citizen, although that would of course be a loss for France."
The announcement comes after a petition was launched on Sunday night urging the federal government to grant Australian citizenship to Guerot, whose visa expires in a month.
"Damien Guerot committed an act of true heroism by selflessly putting his own life in the firing line of danger without a second thought by taking on a mass murderer, Joel Cauchi, with a bollard, to keep him at bay while members of the public fled to safety," the petition stated.
"His brave and courageous act gave police time to arrive to contain the situation, it is unknown how many lives he has saved by his act of selfless heroism.
"Thank you Damien. A true act of Australianism."
More than 1200 people have signed the petition.
On Saturday, at 3pm (local time), Guerot arrived at the mall with his friend, when the attack took place.
They told 7News they both heard someone scream: "There's a man stabbing people."
The pair ran to see what was happening - then Cauchi started approaching them.
"We were thinking, 'We need to try to stop him'," Guerot said.
Guerot grabbed a bollard before coming face-to-face with Cauchi on an escalator.
Footage shows Guerot blocking off the top of the escalator, and lunging at Cauchi with a bollard.
Guerot described Cauchi as having "empty eyes".
"It was like he wasn't there."
