In a major blow to Israel's airport security, an Israeli policeman apparently shot and killed himself while guarding a farewell ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at the Ben Gurion Airport.

Also in attendance were Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres.

The Ben Guiron International Airport is often referred to as one of the safest airports in the world. It is guarded by both police forces and the military — uniformed and undercover. That one of Israel's own policemen killed himself with his duty weapon in the presence of three world leaders is an unprecedented security breach for the airport. 

From The Jerusalem Post:

After hearing about the shot on their radio earpieces, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) agents immediately went into action, surrounding the prime minister and rushing him into a bullet-proof vehicles. Peres was also escorted to a separate secure vehicle.

Sarkozy's security guards whisked him onboard the plane. In a panic, Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, rushed up the stairs ahead of her husband.

A spokesman for Peres's security detail said bodyguards had followed an emergency procedure.

The Associated Press reports that the suicidal policeman was on a roof top 100 yards from Sarkozy's plane and that he fell to the ground after shooting himself. A spokesman for the police has not confirmed the suicide.

(photo credit: Reuters/Avi Ohayon/GPO/Handout) 

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