Tirana Unrest: Police Injure 300 as Protesters Attack Government Buildings

Police in Tirana discharged tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to break up a large antigovernment rally that turned violent. Officials reported that more than 300 protesters and officers were injured in the clashes. Dozens of demonstrators were also arrested during the confrontation.

Several government structures sustained damage during the protest. The Ministry of Education emerged as a primary target for the crowd. Participants threw stones at the building and rolled burning trash bins toward its entrance.

The violence marks a sharp escalation after days of relative calm. Tensions had been simmering since mid-October, when protests began over deteriorating school conditions and rising living costs in the Balkan nation. Law enforcement and demonstrators have engaged in repeated skirmishes since that period.

Thousands of people gathered in the capital following calls from organizers for students and residents from across Albania to attend. The rally drew support from a diverse coalition, including university professors, artists, and opposition political parties. Local media noted that police increased security measures around the city and inspected vehicles entering the capital.

Public discontent has roots in a luxury hotel project linked to the family of U.S. President Donald Trump. News of that project surfaced in May and sparked intermittent demonstrations. The movement has since broadened into a campaign against corruption and economic strain. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Rama attributed the violence to foreign actors, citing online misinformation campaigns driven by Russia and Iran. The prime minister also proposed dialogue as a path forward. Red cushions were placed outside the government headquarters on Saturday as a symbolic gesture to invite talks. Protesters set the cushions on fire later in the day.

Signs carried by demonstrators criticized not only Rama but also his main opposition rival, center-right leader Sali Berisha. The crowd indicated that blame for the current crisis extends across the entire political class.