Belgian Police Hunt Dangerous Internee Who Fled by Bicycle
Belgian federal police have launched a manhunt for Steve De Mey, a 44-year-old dangerous internee who escaped from a supervised bicycle outing in Burcht, East Flanders, on Thursday afternoon. De Mey, who was previously convicted of attempted murder for attacking a nurse at a forensic psychiatric center in 2021, has been placed on the federal police’s “Most Wanted” list alongside approximately 20 other fugitives, according to VRT NWS.
The Escape
De Mey was participating in a supervised bicycle ride organized by the Forensic Psychiatric Centre (FPC) in Antwerp when he detached himself from the group in the afternoon on the Heirbaan in Burcht, a sub-municipality of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht. He fled on a grey Minerva-brand bicycle. At the time of his escape, he was wearing black pants, a blue T-shirt, a light grey hoodie, and black Nike sneakers, though police note he may have changed his clothing.
Authorities describe De Mey as having an athletic build, short brown hair graying at the sides, and grey-blue eyes. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office and federal police have warned the public not to approach him, stating that he “can pose a danger to the physical integrity of third parties,” as reported by HLN.
Criminal History
De Mey was originally interned in 2018 at the FPC in Ghent following a conviction for theft with violence. In 2021, while at the Ghent facility, he attacked a nurse in an incident classified as attempted manslaughter or attempted murder. Following that attack, he was re-interned and transferred to the FPC in Antwerp, where he remained until his escape.
How Could a Dangerous Internee Participate in a Supervised Bicycle Ride?
The escape has raised immediate questions about risk assessment procedures within Belgium’s internment system. Sandra Vansteenkiste, spokesperson for the FPC, explained that supervised bicycle rides are part of a structured leave permit system granted by courts as part of rehabilitation.
“It sounds to the outside world like a group of cycling tourists going for a ride, but it is not,” Vansteenkiste told VRT NWS. “A supervised bicycle ride is part of the leave permits that internees can receive from the court.”
She emphasized that the process begins very small — two hours per month — and gradually expands based on recommendations from the treatment team. “As long as internees function within a very strict structure, in a high-security environment, you don’t know how it will go outside the walls,” she said. “That is of course important to know before the internee is released and returns to society.”
Broader Systemic Concerns
The escape comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Belgium’s internment system. According to a recent VRT NWS investigation, the Belgian state has paid approximately €2 million in fines and damages since 2020 due to problems in the treatment of internees. Experts describe the system as fundamentally flawed, with overcrowded facilities, fragmented care, and Belgium having been convicted over 20 times by the European Court of Human Rights regarding its internment practices.
This is not the first escape from a Belgian FPC. In November 2025, two internees escaped from FPC Ghent and were later arrested in Blankenberge. In January 2024, a 59-year-old internee escaped during a hospital visit from FPC Ghent and was later arrested in the Netherlands.
Police Appeal
Anyone who spots Steve De Mey is urged not to approach him but to immediately contact police at 101 or the toll-free number 0800 30 30. The search remains ongoing as of Friday afternoon, with no arrest yet reported.
What to Watch For
The incident is likely to intensify the debate in Belgium about the balance between rehabilitation and public safety within the internment system. With a documented history of violence — including the attempted murder of a healthcare worker — De Mey’s escape raises difficult questions about how risk is assessed when granting leave permits to internees with violent backgrounds. The outcome of the police search and any subsequent policy changes will be closely monitored.