Body found in search for far-right fugitive

Belgian police said the body of a fugitive far-right soldier who was the target of a huge man hunt appears to have been found.

Hundreds of officers scoured parts of northeast Belgium after Jurgen Conings, who was on an anti-terrorism watch list, threatened a top virologist involved in the country’s Covid-19 programme. He had hoarded heavy weaponry in an army barracks, and disappeared on 17 May.

A body was found yesterday 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 inquiries are under way, Belgian federal police said.

Conings, 46, had hidden anti-tank missile launchers and other heavy arms before disappearing. He had threatened several people in recent months.

He had a long career as an expert marksman before he started making threats and racist remarks on Facebook. He was disciplined, but still allowed to work with weapons.