Israeli police have identified the officer who fatally shot himself during the departure ceremony for the visiting French president as Raed Ghanem, a member of the minority Druse community.

At the Tuesday ceremony, President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife were rushed onto their plane and Israel’s leaders taken to their cars after the policeman fired a shot.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld denied reports that there had been an assassination attempt on Sarkozy, and Israeli authorities have insisted no dignitaries were in danger from the shooting, more than 100 yards away.

Israeli Channel 2 TV reported Wednesday that police found burns on one of Ghanem’s hands, where he held the barrel of his gun, and gunpowder residue on the other, where he pulled the trigger. That meant the policeman shot himself, the report said. Police did not comment on their investigation.