The man who is accused of stabbing five people in the centre of Amsterdam in March is a 30-year-old Ukrainian army deserter who “wanted to serve time in a European jail”, according to current affairs programme Nieuwsuur.

Roman D had apparently been given permission by his military superiors to visit his mother, but instead of travelling to see her in Czechia, he went straight to the Netherlands.

Several of his army collegues told the programme D often spoke of going to a European jail. “He said he would kill someone in Norway and then spend the rest of his life being taken care of in a prison there,” D’s former commander said.

D’s colleagues told the programme he had mental problems and that his behaviour became more erratic after he suffered serious concussion and was put on desk duty.

After his arrest, it took Dutch police some time to establish D’s identity because he was carrying fake papers in the name of five of his fellow soldiers.

At first it was suggested D, who is from Russian-controlled Donetsk, was part of a Russian operation but his friends said that was unlikely. “Roman fought the Russians for years, and it’s very hard to imagine he would work with them,” one said.

The Dutch public prosecution office said they did not rule out any scenario.

Roman D has been charged with attempted murder or manslaughter with terrorist intent. He will make his first court appearance at the beginning of July.

Nieuwsuur interviewed Roman D’s mother and eight of his fellow soldiers for the report.