Belgium: Apparently, Body of Fugitive Far-Right Soldier Found
Belgian police say the body of a fugitive far-right soldier who was the target of a huge manhunt appears to have been found Sunday.
Hundreds of security forces scoured a swath of northeast Belgium after the May 17 disappearance of Jurgen Conings, who was on an antiterrorism watch list, had threatened a top virologist involved in the country’s COVID-19 program and had hoarded heavy weaponry.
A body was found Sunday by people walking in the woods near the town of Dilsen-Stockem. Initial evidence indicates it is Conings and that he killed himself, but further examination is underway, Belgian federal police said in a statement.
Conings, 46, had hidden antitank missile launchers and other heavy arms in an army barracks before disappearing. He had threatened several people in recent months, including the virologist, and landed on the federal antiterrorism watch list in February.
Conings had a three-decade career behind him as an expert marksman before he started making threats and racist remarks on social media. He was handed disciplinary sanctions but still allowed to work with weapons.
To Read The Full Story
Are you already a subscriber?
Click "Sign In" to log in!
Become a Web Subscriber
Click “Subscribe” below to begin the process of becoming a new subscriber.
Become a Print + Web Subscriber
Click “Subscribe” below to begin the process of becoming a new subscriber.
Renew Print + Web Subscription
Click “Renew Subscription” below to begin the process of renewing your subscription.