Virologist threatened by fugitive Belgian soldier sends sympathy to his bereaved family

Jurgen Conings was found dead in a national park after a four-week manhunt

Police vehicles arrive to patrol the spot where the body of Jurgen Conings was found in Dilserbos. AFP

Jurgen Conings, 46, who had anti-vaccine views and was on a terrorism watchlist, had been on the run for a month. AFP

Leonard "Nard" Houben talks to the press near the area where he found the body of Jurgen Conings. AFP

Heavily armed soldiers take part in an intensive sweeping of an area on the edge of the Hoge Kempen National Park on June 4.

Soldiers search around the Hoge Kempen National Park on June 4. Conings was thought to be carrying a rocket launcher, a sub-machinegun, a bulletproof vest and a pistol, and had stolen weapons from a barracks. AFP

Belgian soldiers prepare to enter the Hoge Kempen National Park on May 27. Conings made threats against Dr Marc Van Ranst, a prominent Covid-19 virologist in Belgium, and other experts. AFP

Belgian military ride in a convoy at the entrance of Hoge Kempen on May 21. A manhunt was launched after the discovery of letters, apparently by Conings, that said he did not want to live in “a society ruled by virologists” and pledging to “join the resistance”. AP Photo

Belgian security forces carry out searches in Limburg on May 20. Getty Images

Forester ranger Corina Cools closes the Hoge Kempen National Park on May 19, as authorities began their search for Jurgen Conings. AFP

Special forces are seen outside Salamander on May 19, the main entrance of Hoge Kempen National Park. AFP

The virologist threatened by a fugitive Belgian soldier has expressed his sympathy for the family of the extremist, whose body was found following a four-week manhunt.

"For them this is very sad news, because they lose a father, a relative or a friend," Dr Marc Van Ranst, a prominent Covid-19 expert in Belgium, said on Twitter.

Jurgen Conings, who held anti-vaccine views and was on a terrorism watch list, went missing from his home on May 17 with a cache of weapons taken from a military base, including anti-tank rockets, after leaving notes that threatened Dr Van Ranst and others.

Dr Van Ranst was taken to a safe house during the hunt from where he continued to post messages on social media. At one stage he joined an extremist chatroom to monitor reaction to the saga.

He told De Morgen newspaper it was especially a relief for his son that the body of Conings had been found.

“It’s a double feeling,” Dr Van Ranst said. “A person like that I have little sympathy for. But that person also has family and children. That’s who my thoughts go out to.

“How am I doing in the safe house? I’ve been here for a little over a month now. Anyway, I hope to return to normal life soon.”

The virologist told Belgian media on Monday that he had returned home.

Conings was found on Sunday at a national park where hundreds of soldiers were searching. Early indications were that he died by suicide, officials said.

Questions are circulating about how he had access to weapons before he went missing.

Conings' body was reportedly discovered by cyclists and a local hunter who noticed a smell of decay. The body was found surrounded by weapons.

Results from a postmortem examination are expected on Monday.