Men fight with axe and knife at Boston Public Library, police say – NBC Boston

An axe was used in a brawl at the Boston Public Library this week.

According to police, a man with an axe and a man with a knife began fighting in front of the library on Boylston Street around 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

Noctis Feral was working in a cafe in the library when he witnessed the incident.

“He already had the axe in his hand, waving it around and screaming at the other guy, 'Do you want to die? Do you want to die?'” Feral recalled.

From then on the situation escalated.

“He hit the axe a few times, but he missed every time,” Feral said. “In my mind I thought, 'Oh, OK, this is fun. I'll get my manager.'”

The fight started on the sidewalk and ended in the library's dining area.

“The guy with the axe turns around and goes into the library. He gets attacked by a second guy in the middle of the library and they start fighting on the floor in front of the circulation desk,” Feral said.

Those involved in the fight were arrested after the police arrived. No one was seriously injured.

The violence occurred as Boston police met with elected officials to discuss overtime, staffing and security across the city.

The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association is pushing for additional personnel as the city is short nearly 600 officers.