Defendant throws metal-filled bag at judge in Kauno court, shattering protective glass

A defendant in a high-profile drug trafficking case threw a bag containing metal objects at a judge in Kauno Regional Court on Monday, smashing the protective glass barrier in the courtroom, the court confirmed in a statement.

The incident occurred during closing arguments in a trial involving the possession and organised smuggling of large quantities of psychotropic substances into Marijampolė Prison. The defendant, who has nine prior convictions for violent, property, and drug-related offences, demanded the presiding judge be removed from the case before launching the attack. No injuries were reported.

Kauno Regional Court noted the case underscores persistent security risks in Lithuanian courts, particularly in serious criminal trials. “Such incidents pose a direct threat not only to judges but also to court staff, trial participants, and observers,” the statement read. The court has repeatedly called for strengthened security measures, warning that existing protections are insufficient in high-risk proceedings.

Danguolė Bublienė, chair of the Judges’ Council and head of Lithuania’s Supreme Court, described the attack as “a direct signal that court security in Lithuania is at a critical level.” In a social media post, she revealed that Lithuanian courts have requested funding for security upgrades since 2019 but received no allocation. Most courts lack permanent physical security, while those with metal detectors routinely intercept dangerous items—including knives, brass knuckles, and even a cleaver—being smuggled in by trial participants.

“We are not asking for luxury or excessive measures,” Bublienė wrote. “This is about basic safety for everyone in the courtroom—judges, lawyers, prosecutors, witnesses, journalists, and visitors.” She stressed that Monday’s incident proves the risks are not theoretical but a “real and present danger.”