HUNDREDS of Belgian special agents have been deployed to comb the countryside for a far-right soldier on the run who is considered armed and dangerous.

Helicopters are scanning the Hoge Kempen national park; roads through it have been closed and residents told to stay indoors.

Jurgen Conings was a Belgian army marksman for over three decades before being disciplined in recent months for issuing threats and making racist remarks on Facebook. He fought in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.