Albanian Protesters Set Fire to Court of Appeal on Seventh Day of Demonstrations

Protesters set fire to the Court of Appeal in Albania's capital on Monday, marking the seventh consecutive day of student demonstrations and an escalation in clashes with riot police. The incident began after a peaceful student gathering outside the Ministry of Education turned violent, with hooded individuals breaking into the courthouse and igniting it. Police used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, while authorities investigated emailed bomb threats traced to a hacked account in Saudi Arabia. The Health Ministry reported 303 injuries over the first six days, including 190 officers, with over 240 arrests. Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected resignation, blamed Russian and Iranian disinformation, and offered officers a 2,500-euro bonus. The protests follow months of demonstrations against a tourism project linked to Jared Kushner.