Assailant storms Mass. courthouse in gas mask and tactical gear before pepper spraying, assaulting several victims: disturbing video

A gas-mask-wearing assailant stormed into a Massachusetts courthouse Monday and unleashed a tirade, pepper-spraying officers and assaulting bystanders astatine random successful a shocking, caught-on-camera attack.

Nicholas Akerberg, 28, showed up to nan Woburn District Court successful nan Boston suburbs locked and loaded pinch a state mask, tactical boots, and sunglasses earlier he barged inside, according to constabulary and information footage.

As he approached nan tribunal entrance, Akerberg fired capsicum spray astatine an serviceman while she was trying to adjacent nan doorway connected him. Despite her efforts, he pushed past her, dousing her successful moreover much capsicum spray earlier sprinting past nan metallic detector and into nan courthouse lobby, nan footage shows.

He managed to punch, push, and battle respective bystanders successful nan process.

It took six officers and a taser to subdue him, according to nan video.

In total, Akerberg had 8 canisters of capsicum spray and 2 fume canisters pinch him, nan Middlesex territory attorney’s agency said.

He was arrested and taken for a intelligence wellness information astatine Bridgewater State Hospital, according to police.

He has an extended history of rocky intelligence health, including 5 anterior court-mandated commitments to intelligence wellness institutions, according to tribunal documents obtained by CBS News.

In 2023, Akerberg was arrested for punching a 67-year-old neighbor. He besides attacked constabulary officers pinch capsicum spray successful 2024 while resisting apprehension for battle and artillery pinch a vulnerable limb and usurpation of a protection order, nan outlet reported.

For Monday’s tribunal rampage, he was charged pinch six counts of battle and artillery pinch a vulnerable limb and respective different charges, nan territory attorney’s agency said.

Akerberg was ordered held astatine a Monday arraignment, and his bail was revoked. He is owed backmost successful tribunal connected May 2.

With Post wires.