Footage captured at a property in Algeria shows the moment a man who had been missing for 27 years was found just minutes away from his family home.
Omar Bin Omran went missing in 1997, after he set off on his way to vocational school when he was just 17 years old.
His disappearance took place in the midst of the Algerian Civil War, leading Omran's family to believe he had been kidnapped or killed. But for almost three decades, the family was left with no idea of what had happened to their son.
Omran's mother held out hope that she would see him again, but sadly passed away in 2013.
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It would be another decade before Omran was finally found with authorities learning he had indeed appeared to have been kidnapped.
His discovery came after the brother of Omran's accused captor, said to have worked as a civil servant, suggested he may have been involved in the kidnapping in a social media post amid a fight over inheritance.
The allegation prompted authorities to take another look at Omran's disappearance, leading the National Gendarmerie in Algeria to search the home of the man mentioned in the social media post.
The man lived a mere 300 feet from Omran's own family's residence, and in his home authorities discovered a trapdoor hidden underneath some hay.
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In footage shared on X and also broadcast on Algerian television networks in May of this year shows the moment the trapdoor was opened to reveal Omran inside.
In the clip, Omran, then sporting a beard, could be seen looking up into the torchlight from what appears to be the hole in the ground, surrounded by hay. Later, scenes showed flashing lights as authorities continued the investigation.
Now 45-years-old, Omran was found in the space below the floor of what is thought to be some sort of sheep pen.
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A court official explained: “Following this report the General Prosecutor of the Court of Idrisiya in the province of Djelfa ordered the National Gendarmerie to open an in-depth investigation and officers went to the house in question."
“The Public Prosecutor's Office ordered that the victim receive medical and psychological treatment, and the suspect will be presented to the Public Prosecutor's Office immediately after the completion of the investigation," the official added.
Following his discovery, the 61-year-old man accused of holding Omran captive attempted to flee, but was ultimately caught and has been remanded in custody.
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Meanwhile, Omran was taken to a medical centre for both the physical and psychological treatment.
According to a report from the Elkhabar newspaper, Omran was quoted as saying that he used to be able to see his family members from a window in the cellar where he was being held, but he couldn't call out as it felt 'as if there was a compelling force inside me, preventing me'.
Topics: Crime, Social Media
Emily Brown