An Israeli police officer fatally shot himself Tuesday at an airport departure ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, sparking fear of an assassination attempt and prompting bodyguards to whisk away Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, officials said.

Dark-suited men quickly ushered Sarkozy and his wife up the stairs of their plane as Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres were escorted to their cars. In a panic, Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, rushed up the stairs ahead of her husband.

The incident was over within minutes, and Olmert boarded the plane to inform Sarkozy what had transpired, witnesses said.

Police spokesman Shlomi Sagi confirmed that a policeman guarding the airport committed suicide just as Sarkozy was about to board his plane.

Officials said he shot himself in the head.

Another police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, said there had been no assassination attempt on the French leader.

Sarkozy’s three-day trip to Israel was meant to improve relations between the two countries.

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