Tirana police use force to break up protest, leaving 300 injured

Albanian authorities confirmed on Saturday that more than 300 people were injured when police in Tirana used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse a large antigovernment rally. The violence occurred after a crowd gathered in the capital, responding to calls from student groups and other organizers across the country.

Local officials stated that dozens of demonstrators were detained during the clashes. Several government facilities sustained damage as the protest turned physical. Protesters threw stones at the Ministry of Education building and rolled burning waste bins toward the structure.

Security forces had increased their presence in Tirana prior to the event. Police conducted vehicle checks on cars entering the city and fortified areas around key government sites. A coalition of university professors, artists, and opposition parties publicly pledged support for the demonstration.

Saturday’s confrontation marks a sharp escalation in a series of protests that began in mid-October. The initial unrest was triggered by complaints over poor school conditions and the rising cost of living in Albania. While the situation had appeared to stabilize in the days before the rally, the new clashes have rekindled tensions between the public and the state.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, a member of the Socialist Party, has attributed the violence to external influence. He accused Russia and Iran of driving misinformation campaigns online. In a bid to signal openness to dialogue, his administration placed red cushions outside the government headquarters on Saturday morning. Demonstrators responded by setting the cushions on fire.

The current wave of unrest extends a pattern of public dissatisfaction that started in May. That timeline began with reports of a luxury hotel project connected to the family of United States President Donald Trump. The issue expanded into a broader campaign against corruption and economic pressure. Protesters now demand the resignation of Prime Minister Rama.

Criticism within the crowd was directed at the entire political leadership. Some participants carried signs criticizing Sali Berisha, the centre-right leader and Rama’s main opposition rival. The rally concluded with the police holding the perimeter around the central government district.