The teenager who forced his way into the parliamentary complex in The Hague on Thursday has been charged with planning a terrorist attack, the public prosecution office has said.

The 18-year-old from Nijmegen, who was armed with a knife with which he threatened a parliamentary worker,  jumped over the security barriers which led to the main debating chamber, and was subsequently arrested by military police.

Further interrogation will have to make clear if he was looking for a particular person, the prosecution office said. The man’s mental health will “emphatically” be taken into account, it said. He has so far refused to make a statement.

The youngster, who has Dutch nationality, will be held in custody for another two weeks as the investigation continues.