Gunman who stormed Dutch broadcaster claimed to be hacker

Jan. 29, 2015: Security forces are seen outside the Media Park in Hilversum, Netherlands. (AP)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – A gunman who stormed into the headquarters of Dutch national broadcaster NOS demanding airtime Thursday night claimed to be from a "hackers' collective," according to a reporter who spoke to the man.

NOS was off-air for around an hour. When it came back on-air, it showed recorded footage of the man, wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie, and carrying a pistol.

Speaking to a man off camera, the man said, "We are hired in by intelligence agencies." Shortly after, police arrived and ordered the man to drop the weapon and put his hands in the air. Four or five police officers then ordered him to lie down, which he did and he was arrested without a struggle.

There was no immediate indication that the incident was terror-related.

NOS director Jan de Jong told national radio it was unclear how the man got through tight security in the building and into the editorial offices in Hilversum. NOS later reported on its website that the man had a silencer on the pistol and threatened a security guard, forcing him to take him upstairs to the editorial offices.

When the broadcaster was off-air, a screen on the NOS1 channel read "Please be patient" in Dutch.

Police didn't immediately return calls seeking comment, and calls to NOS offices in Hilversum, about 12 miles east of Amsterdam, went unanswered Thursday night.

The evening edition of the NOS news wasn't broadcast. Police quickly surrounded the building in Hilversum and evacuated staff, according to media reports. There were no reports of any shots being fired in the building.