Manhunt for Jürgen Conings
| Manhunt for Jürgen Conings | |
|---|---|
| Part of Counter-terrorism operations in Belgium | |
| Location | several locations, including Hoge Kempen National Park |
| Planned by | Federal Police; Belgian Armed Forces |
| Target | Jürgen Conings |
| Date | 17 May – 20 June 2021 |
| Outcome | Body of Jürgen Conings found |
The manhunt for Jürgen Conings (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjyːrɣə(ŋ) ˈkoːnɪŋs]) began on 18 May 2021, after the discovery that Conings, a Belgian soldier under suspicion of far-right extremism, had taken several weapons from military barracks in Leopoldsburg the previous day and farewell letters were found containing violent threats directed at the Belgian government and virologists (relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic). On 20 June 2021, Belgian media reported that a body had been found in the Dilserbos forest, which was later confirmed by the Federal Prosecutor's Office to be the body of Jürgen Conings. One day later, the Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Conings died of suicide by gunshot, which was disputed by his family. A second autopsy was denied and he was cremated a few days later.