Dozens of Belgian police officers are looking on Wednesday for an armed soldier known to be close to the extreme right.
He fled after having uttered threats against the State and public figures, Agence France Presse learned from the federal prosecution which was seized of the case.
Special units of the federal police have been mobilized since Tuesday evening.
The research is focused near Dilsen-Stokkem in the Flemish province of Limburg (north-eastern Belgium), on the border with the Netherlands, where the 40-year-old lives.
"He is a fairly trained soldier, who seems to be close to far-right ideas, and who left two letters with worrying elements", declared the spokesman of the federal prosecutor's office, Eric Van Duyse, mentioning the threats " for the structures of the State and of public persons ”.
His vehicle found
The virologist Marc Van Ranst, who became the target of “anti-masks” during the health crisis, is among the potential targets.
Already under police protection, he was taken to a safe place with his family.
Eric Van Duyse indicated that the soldier “disappeared with weapons.
The goal is to find him safe and sound ”.
The man could have taken with him rocket launchers, a submachine gun, a semi-automatic pistol and a bulletproof vest, say some of our Belgian colleagues.
But investigators found his vehicle on Tuesday evening.
"The most worrying weapons were found on board," said the spokesman for the federal prosecution.
Manhunt in Flanders: the most dangerous weapons found, the search continues https://t.co/wYPwax5jlw pic.twitter.com/RyCSUpfVh3
- Le Soir (@lesoir) May 19, 2021
The hunted person is on the terrorist list of Ocam, the Belgian organization responsible for analyzing the terrorist threat, because of his far-right sympathies, Justice Minister Vincent Van said Tuesday evening. Quickenborne, on Flemish TV VTM. "There are indications that he is violent and, in the last 24 hours, evidence has emerged that the man poses an acute threat," he said.
