Police in Brabant have arrested a 19-year-old man they suspect of entering a primary school in Oisterwijk on Tuesday morning and acting in an aggressive manner.

There were reports the man had left explosives or weapons in the De Coppele school, but this turned out not to be true, police said after a thorough search of the building.

A helicopter was involved in the hunt for the man, who used threatening language when he went into the school at around 8 am. Teachers called the police and the school was evacuated as heavily armed officers combed the premises.

The suspect, wearing grey jogging pants and a red shirt, appeared to be in a “confused” state police said. “We take this sort of report extremely seriously,” a police spokesman told the Telegraaf.

Local mayor Hans Janssen said the village was in shock after the incident and that support had been made available for children, parents and teaching staff.

Police have not yet said anything about a possible motive for the man’s actions.