Cop's suicide at farewell ceremony mars Sarkozy trip to Israel

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-25  |     ONLINE EDITION

1/2   French President Nicolas Sarkozy, bottom right, and wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, top right, are rushed onto an airplane by security during a departure ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, yesterday. An Israeli police officer fatally shot himself in the head on Tuesday at an airport departure ceremony for French President Nicholas Sarkozy, authorities said, sparking fear of an assassination attempt and prompting bodyguards to whisk Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert away from the scene. More in photo gallery

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AN ISRAELI police officer fatally shot himself in the head yesterday at an airport departure ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, authorities said, sparking fear of an assassination attempt and prompting bodyguards to whisk Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert away.

The shooting occurred while a military band was playing, and the leaders apparently didn't hear anything. Dark-suited security men then quickly ushered Sarkozy up the stairs of his plane. In a panic, Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, rushed up the stairs ahead of him.

At the same time, security guards, with their guns drawn, rushed Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres toward their cars. The incident was over within minutes, and Olmert returned and boarded the plane to inform Sarkozy what happened, witnesses said.
The dead policeman's body, covered with a sheet, lay on the tarmac after the bizarre incident.

Police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld denied reports that there had been an assassination attempt on the French leader. Police officials said none of the leaders were in danger.

The area police commander, Nissim Mor, said police were looking into the incident. "We are currently investigating the circumstances to see whether it was suicide or if he accidentally discharged his weapon," he said. "His mission was to secure an area to prevent people from reaching the ceremony."

Witnesses said the man fell from a roof after shooting himself. He was at least 100 yards away from Sarkozy's plane.

French presidential spokesman Franck Louvrier could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone. Another presidential spokesman, who was on another scheduled flight out of Tel Aviv, said he knew nothing about the incident.

The airport shooting was a dramatic end to a three-day visit that had gone according to plan up to then.