Brief

Violent protests in Tirana damage ministries and spark arrests

Clashes in Tirana left government offices damaged, one ministry floor on fire and 35 detainees, according to France24.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:59:17 GMT

Anti‑government protests in Tirana turned violent on Wednesday, with demonstrators targeting several government buildings, setting a floor of the Justice Ministry ablaze and prompting a heavy police response, France24 reported.

What happened

Thousands gathered in the capital to demand Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation and better university conditions. Over several hours, riot police deployed water cannons and tear‑gas while protesters hurled paving stones, petrol bombs and smashed windows at the Justice Ministry, Finance Ministry and the prime minister’s office. A tree near the prime‑ministerial building briefly caught fire before firefighters extinguished it. Police said 14 officers were injured and 35 people detained by the end of the night; the previous day six officers were injured and 16 arrests were made.

What the reports add

France24 noted that interior minister Ervin Demo blamed “malicious hands of outsiders” for the violence, while also acknowledging student concerns. The outlet cited an AFP‑observed incident where two protesters climbed the Education Ministry wall and threw flares, producing thick black smoke before the blaze was controlled.

What was said

Interior minister Ervin Demo told reporters, “To those currently setting fire to and destroying public and private property, I say: pull back before it is too late,” and warned that “individual accountability before the law may be delayed amidst the destructive frenzy of a masked mob, it will never forget.”

How it came about

The unrest follows a wave of student demonstrations that began on 13 October, when Albanian police used tear gas and water cannons on protesters at the Education Ministry, an event covered by Felo News (Albanian police use tear gas and water cannons on student protest at Education Ministry).

Key facts

Protesters set fire to a floor of the Justice Ministry building in Tirana (france24.com)
Police used water cannons and tear gas during the clashes (france24.com)
14 police officers were injured and 35 people detained on Wednesday (france24.com)
Interior minister Ervin Demo blamed outsiders for the violence (france24.com)
Two protesters threw flares into the Education Ministry, creating thick smoke (france24.com)