Belgitude: the art of Belgian zen
A rogue soldier explains life in Europe’s strangest country
A LLOWING A SOLDIER to go AWOL is a misfortune. Allowing a soldier to go AWOL armed with stolen machineguns, four rocket-launchers and a pledge to “join the resistance” and kill Belgium’s top virologist looks like carelessness. The tale of Jurgen Conings’s, a 46-year-old army sharpshooter, who disappeared in May, has diverted Belgium. A month-long manhunt featuring special forces from five countries, drones and sniffer dogs turned up nothing. Instead, Mr Conings’ body was found on June 20th by a local mayor. He was mountain-biking nearby and noticed a smell.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Belgitude: the art of Belgian zen”
From the June 26th 2021 edition
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