The man who took four people hostage in a café in Ede in the early hours of Saturday morning was given four months in jail last December for threatening to kill someone, most of which was suspended, Dutch media said on Tuesday.

The man was then jailed for 120 days, 103 suspended for three years, plus probation and was also ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment. The offence took place last March.

The man, who is 28, appeared in court in connection with the new incident on Monday afternoon. He was remanded in custody for two weeks.

As yet the motive for the hostage taking at the weekend remains a mystery. The incident lasted over seven hours and ended when he gave himself up to police, having first released the three members of staff and one co-owner.

They said in a statement at the weekend they did not know him.