Since the beginning of the pandemic, virologists have repeatedly been the target of hostility and hate speech in social networks. The Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst even had to hide with his family under police protection after the heavily armed ex-military Jürgen C. ambushed and threatened him near his home.
On Sunday, the police found the ex-military dead in a wooded area in the Flemish Dilsen-Stokkem. The mayor of the East Belgian municipality of Maaseik discovered the body on a bike ride and called the police, who quickly established the identity. The Belgian soldier suspected of terrorism had been searched for over four weeks, including with helicopters and sometimes with hundreds of emergency services. The alleged right-wing extremist Jürgen C. went into hiding after death threats against Van Ranst. He was also investigated for attempted murder and illegal possession of weapons.
Virologist Van Ranst regularly fights words with corona deniers
The virologist was “relieved” by the Belgian broadcaster RTBF that he and his family were no longer exposed to any threats. Van Ranst was also not intimidated by multiple threatening comments from vaccination opponents and supporters of the extreme right: the virologist was still active on Twitter.
Opposite the French magazines Paris Match Van Ranst had clearly positioned himself at the beginning of June: “Today the extreme right is screaming very loudly and it seems to be working for them. We have to relentlessly denounce the extreme right and make noise.” The well-known virologist also regularly engages in heated arguments on Twitter with anti-vaccination opponents and corona deniers.
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