Tarik Z, the student who forced his way into the Nos television studios in January with a fake gun demanding airtime, appeared in court in Lelystad on Tuesday for a procedural hearing.

During the short hearing Z declined to say anything to the court about his motives. ‘I have no need to do so,’ Z, who is 20, said.

Officials said the psychological report on Z will be completed on June 8. The report will determine whether he was responsible for his actions when he attempted to take over the studio and claimed to have hidden radioactive bombs at several locations.

Z will remain in custody until the main trial starts on June 19 and his lawyer Ton Visser did not ask for him to be released.

Nos reporter Mattijs van de Wiel said Z appeared relaxed at the hearing and was not wearing a suit or glasses, as he had done in January. ‘He was a young man with a friendly, youthful face in a dark blue shirt with white spots,’ Van de Wiel said.

Not disturbed

Visser said Z will speak at the trial in June and repeated claims that his client is not confused.

‘From the word go I have been able to talk very clearly with my client about what he did,’ Visser said. ‘I do not have the impression he is disturbed or confused, as the media would have it.’

Z is described as a quiet, intelligent youth by friends and fellow students but not a loner. He is, however, said to have been fascinated by conspiracy theories. He is a first year student of molecular science and technology, a joint degree offered by Delft and Leiden universities.