French consul worker ‘sold weapons in Israel’

A French consulate employee has been arrested in Israel for smuggling guns to Palestinian arms dealers.

Romain Franck, 24, allegedly used his diplomatic privileges in Jerusalem to sneak 70 guns and two rifles over the Israeli border to Gaza.

The French foreign ministry is taking the allegations “very seriously”.

Mr Franck appeared in court in Beersheba on Monday where he was charged with arms trafficking, fraud and criminal conspiracy.

Eight others, including a Palestinian security guard at the consulate, were also arrested as part of the case.