The man who caused a security scare outside the parliament building in the centre of The Hague last Thursday has been sent to a psychiatric institution while the investigation continues, website Nu.nl said on Monday, quoting the public prosecution department.

The area around parliament was sealed off for a time after the man, 59, shouted at military police officers that he had a bomb in a bag, which he then threw at the building.

Police fired a warning shot before arresting the man. According to one report, he had earlier caused a disturbance at a local police station about his social security benefits.

Nu.nl reported that the public prosecution department said the man had a history of psychiatric illness.