Dutch police fired a warning shot at a ‘confused man’ who was shouting in in front of the parliamentary complex in the centre of The Hague, Dutch media said on Thursday evening.

The area was sealed off by military police after the man threw a bag he was carrying at the building where the lower house of parliament is based, according to one report. The man reportedly said there was a bomb in the bag.

According to the Telegraaf, eyewitnesses said the man was shouting in front of the main entrance to the parliamentary complex when he was surrounded by military police with their weapons drawn.

They ordered him to start undressing and the man at first appeared to cooperate. He then began shouting aggressively. When the regular police turned up after about 10 minutes, one officer fired a warning shot, broadcaster RTL said.

The man was angry about his social security benefits, RTL quoted police spokesman Bobby Markus as saying. NOS reported that the man had been complaining about his benefits at a police station before heading for parliament.

Police had sealed off the building and evacuated everyone who was inside, broadcaster RTL said. The bag was searched by explosives experts but nothing was found.

The Telegraaf website is carrying a photograph of a white man lying on the ground, surrounded by military police officers.

De man stond zich uit te kleden en te schreeuwen. Hoopje kleding ligt links op de foto. pic.twitter.com/ULuOR58aw0

— Peter Valstar (@pvalstar) January 5, 2017