Teenager in costume for FACTS comic con mistaken for 'heavily armed man'

A man spotted in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, near Brussels, in "heavily armed" gear on Saturday morning turned out to be a boy in costume on his way to the FACTS fantasy convention in Ghent, according to local police. A large-scale search was launched after the young man was first spotted.

A local resident had posted a photo of the "heavily armed man" on social media, causing anxiety in the community. "Because of the current heightened terror threat level [due to Monday's terrorist attack in Brussels], we immediately launched a full-scale search," said police commissioner Wannes Monteyne. "We were able to identify the man from CCTV footage. His father also came forward."

The boy was on his way to the FACTS convention, a comic convention held in Ghent. Many visitors to the event dress up as science fiction or fantasy characters for the weekend.

However, the commissioner said that, given the current situation, it is not advisable to go out in public in such a costume.

^{Photo of the teenager circulating on social media © PHOTO FACEBOOK}