Gozée: armed man sought after false alert, house was empty
A large police operation was deployed this morning in Gozée for nothing: the surrounded house was empty. The man, born in 1996, is on the run.
False barricade in Gozée: individual had fled before police arrival
RTBF Info reports that a large police operation was deployed this morning in Gozée, shortly before 8 a.m., around Place des Combattants — only to discover, by the end of the day, that the targeted house had been empty from the start.
The Charleroi prosecutor's office had confirmed that morning that a man, born in 1996, had allegedly barricaded himself in the family home following an argument and was armed. According to initial information, he had allegedly taken a weapon belonging to his father. The latter had reportedly left the home to alert police.
Special units and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene. After a complete search of the building, the teams found no one.
A press statement sent at the end of the day by the Charleroi prosecutor's office clarifies: "The technical intervention by special units, which led to a complete search of the building, did not however make it possible to locate the individual. According to initial information, it would appear that the individual left the premises between the call to police services and the arrival of the teams."
The man is now on the run and actively being sought. The missing persons unit has been notified, the prosecutor's office states. According to the latest available information, he is not reported to be carrying a weapon.
Source: RTBF Info