Missing man found alive in cellar 26 years later

A man missing for more than 26 years has been found alive in his neighbour's cellar, just a few hundred metres from his family home. Omar bin Omran was reportedly kidnapped as a teenager and was discovered on Sunday.

Omran, now 45, from Algeria, was unable to speak when found by authorities in a hay-covered basement. 

In a video posted on X, Omran can be seen sitting silently surrounded by hay in a make-shift pen. 

🔴🇩🇿: حادثة مرعبة حالياً ترند وهي الاكثر تداول بالجزائر لشاب اسمه "بن عمران عمر" فقد عام 1996 وحصلوه امس!!!

بدات القصة في عام 1996 كان عمره 16 سنة، ووقتها فقد وبحث عنه اهله والحكومه بلا جدوى، وحتى أن والدته توفيت حسرة وحزن عليه والكل وقتها كان يتصور أنه قتل

لكن الضحية كان مخطوف… pic.twitter.com/XljvqITJ5P

— MOATH | معاذ (@M0ATH) May 14, 2024

The accused captor, a 61-year-old man, has been taken into custody according to the Djelfa Attorney General's Office.

Investigators had received a tip-off from the suspect's brother who suggested his sibling was involved in the kidnapping, in a social media post. The investigation was re-opened by the National Gendarmerie who discovered a trapdoor hidden underneath hay on the floor.

Omran has been taken for physical and psychological medical treatment.