Tirana Erupts in Violence as Police Clash With Protesters Near Education Ministry

Clashes between police and protesters continued unabated in Tirana on October 24, 2026, with chemicals, firebombs, and makeshift barricades turning the Albanian capital into a battlefield near the Ministry of Education. Protesters attacked the Environment Ministry, the Bank of Albania, and Socialist Party offices with Molotov cocktails, setting entrances ablaze. Police responded with tear gas and plastic bullets, while eight people were injured, including lawmakers and a journalist. The unrest marks the 12th consecutive day of anti-government demonstrations led by the opposition Democratic Party under Sali Berisha. Over 2,000 police officers have been deployed, and the prime minister's office is guarded by special forces.