Station blackout unacceptable: Justice Min; PM Rutte:

Following the NOS hostage incident in Hilversum on Thursday evening, the NPO 1 broadcast remained blacked out over an hour stating "Due to certain circumstances, no news at the moment". The Minister of Security and Justice, Ivo Opstelten, finds it unacceptable that the national public broadcaster dropped away from the transmitter. NPO 1 and NPO Radio 1 are emergency channels through which the government can inform the population of a national disaster. 

"The key is that it should not happen. We have to see that the system is organized solidly enough." Said Opstelten after the cabinet meeting. The Justice Minister returned from a foreign visit last night, but due to the large impact of the loss of the public broadcaster, he decided to go from his house from Rotterdam straight to The Hague.

Opstelten thinks that other channels such as RTL or regional broadcasters may be used as emergency channels.
"If a TV channel you count on fails, then you have another one."

The Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, calls last night's event "a serious incident".
"Through prompt action by employees of NOS, security and police the situation was brought under control quickly." says Rutte in his statement. He finds it amazing how everyone have kept calm in a situation like this and reminds that everyone needs to remain "alert and vigilant."