The Dutch public's reaction to the NOS hijacking was mixed, with many viewers expressing anger on social media because the news interruption pre-empted the popular reality show "Wie is de Mol?" (Who is the Mole?). The incident is compared to the Charlie Hebdo attacks in terms of its potential use as a catalyst for expanding the European security state. Reporters have since identified the gunman as a 19-year-old student of Egyptian descent who was reportedly obsessed with conspiracy theories.
