Man wearing gas mask in pepper spray attack at Mass. courthouse held without bail

A man accused of attacking several people with his fists and pepper spray at a courthouse in Woburn on Monday morning was charged and ordered held in law enforcement custody.

Nicholas Akerberg, 28, of Yarmouth Port, faces nearly 20 criminal charges in connection with the reported incident at Woburn District Court, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced.

Akerberg had shown up at the courthouse around 10:30 a.m. on Monday wearing a gas mask, helmet, tactical boots and sunglasses, the office said. The court officer and other people were unable to stop him from getting into the lobby.

Once inside, Akerberg sprayed pepper spray at multiple court officers, a Stoneham police officer and an assistant district attorney, the office said.

Read more: MassLive