Albanian student protesters attack buildings in Tirana
Thousands of students in Tirana, Albania, clashed with police and attacked government buildings, setting part of the education ministry on fire.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thousands of students protested in the Albanian capital of Tirana for a second day
- Parts of the education ministry building were set on fire during the violent clashes
- Riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the angry crowds
- Demonstrations were initially sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner
Thousands of students took to the streets in the Albanian capital of Tirana, launching attacks against multiple government buildings on the second day of violent anti-government demonstrations.
The protests originally kicked off outside the ministry of education on Tuesday, with students demanding better conditions across universities along with improved job prospects for the future.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
By Wednesday, the situation escalated dramatically as a portion of the education ministry building was set on fire. The prime minister's office, the ministries of finance and interior, and several surrounding businesses were also targeted.
The ongoing unrest in Tirana highlights deep-seated public frustration with governance and economic transparency in Albania. The involvement of foreign investors in high-profile luxury real estate projects has frequently inflamed local grievances regarding elite corruption and lack of public accountability.
Riot police responded directly to the violence, clashing with demonstrators and deploying tear gas alongside water cannons in an attempt to push back the crowds.
"The people are very angry at the system. They need to change everything. With this corruption all around, the crime and everything else is happening. And the people now are angry. They need to change the system,"
Enida Bimi
Demonstrator Enida Bimi told Reuters that the protest reaches far beyond student interests, stating it represents all citizens of Albania. Another protester, Arber Leshi, voiced fierce opposition toward what he termed the most corrupt government in the nation's history.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro stated that while the right to protest remains valid, civic student action and acts of violence against public infrastructure are entirely different matters.
The student-led movement follows months of broader anti-government protests known as the Flamingo Revolution, which demands the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The unrest was initially triggered by a luxury tourism initiative involving Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, which intensified anger over alleged corruption.
Source: BBC World
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