A 20-year-old science student who forced his way into the Nos television studios with a fake gun at the end of January should be jailed for four years, one suspended, the public prosecution department said on Friday.

Tarik Z’s action came just three weeks after the attack on the headquarters of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and caused widespread panic at the public broadcaster’s studios. He gave himself up to police without a struggle.

The public prosecutor told Friday’s court hearing Z had ‘hit the Netherlands in the heart’.

During the hearing Z spoke about his motives for the attack, saying he wanted to warn the Dutch people about the ‘fundamentals of the current monetary system’. Public broadcaster Nos is guilty of mass manipulation and therefore the nightly news show was the best place to tell his story, Z said.

Truth

Z’s lawyer told the court his client believed the Nos was a security service capable of swaying public opinion.  Z told the court he still stands by his ideas, but apologised to the court for the fear his actions caused.

The court was also told that Z does not suffer from any psychiatric illness and does not need treatment.

Judges will announce their verdict on July 3.