Armed man appears on live Dutch TV before being overpowered
The man said he "wanted to talk about things that are of world importance"
A police car is parked outside the offices of Dutch national broadcaster NOS in Hilversum, the Netherlands, on January 29, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
THE HAGUE:
An armed man disrupted the Dutch television on Thursday evening when he entered the building of public broadcaster NOS, demanding airtime before being overpowered by police.
In footage released by NOS, the man spoke fluent Dutch and was carrying a black pistol as he paced next to a desk in an empty studio before being arrested.
The NOS building in the city of Hilversum was evacuated, a statement said. The incident interrupted NOS's 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) newscast, with a message on screen telling viewers no broadcast was "available at this time".
When the channel came back on air it broadcast a video of the incident.
Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie, the gunman could be seen speaking calmly to a person off-camera as he claimed to represent a "hackers collective", in a short video aired on NOS.
He can be heard telling the man that he "wanted to talk about things that are of world importance".
"We were hired by intelligence services. We have heard things that call society into question," he said.
"Once my message has been sent, we'll shake hands and you'll be able to go home."
He immediately dropped his weapon and raised his arms when five armed officers stormed in to restrain him, yelling at him to drop his gun.
"I dropped it, I dropped it," he replied off-screen.
A police voice was then heard saying: "The situation is under control."
Speaking live on NOS, general director Jan de Jong said police were combing the building and that "thank God" nobody had been injured.
An armed man disrupted the Dutch television on Thursday evening when he entered the building of public broadcaster NOS, demanding airtime before being overpowered by police.
In footage released by NOS, the man spoke fluent Dutch and was carrying a black pistol as he paced next to a desk in an empty studio before being arrested.
The NOS building in the city of Hilversum was evacuated, a statement said. The incident interrupted NOS's 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) newscast, with a message on screen telling viewers no broadcast was "available at this time".
When the channel came back on air it broadcast a video of the incident.
Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie, the gunman could be seen speaking calmly to a person off-camera as he claimed to represent a "hackers collective", in a short video aired on NOS.
He can be heard telling the man that he "wanted to talk about things that are of world importance".
"We were hired by intelligence services. We have heard things that call society into question," he said.
"Once my message has been sent, we'll shake hands and you'll be able to go home."
He immediately dropped his weapon and raised his arms when five armed officers stormed in to restrain him, yelling at him to drop his gun.
"I dropped it, I dropped it," he replied off-screen.
A police voice was then heard saying: "The situation is under control."
Speaking live on NOS, general director Jan de Jong said police were combing the building and that "thank God" nobody had been injured.