We dealt with night tantrums like that for a couple of years. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a night. They came in waves, so he would do it heaps for 6 or 8 weeks, then a couple of months clear and then they would be back again. Never worked out why, never figured out how to stop it. Basically once he started we just had to wait until it he calmed down on his own accord (an hour or so later...).

It was very frustrating. I hope that you manage to find a reason and it doesn't go on for too long xx