Over 300 Injured as Tirana Police Deploy Force to Clear Anti-Government Crowds

More than 300 people were injured and dozens arrested after Albanian police used force to disperse an antigovernment rally in Tirana on Saturday.

Authorities reported that both demonstrators and officers were among the injured as the crowd turned violent. Police deployed water cannons, fired tear gas, and used rubber bullets against the thousands gathered in the capital.

The unrest follows a wave of protests that began in mid-October over poor school conditions and rising costs of living. Although tensions had calmed in recent days, Saturday’s rally escalated conflict between the crowd and security forces.

The Ministry of Education served as a primary target for the demonstrators. Some in the crowd threw stones at the building and rolled burning bins toward the structure. Local media reported that police increased security around the capital and conducted checks on vehicles entering the city.

Organizers urged students and citizens from across Albania to attend the event. Various groups, including university professors, artists, and opposition parties, announced their support for the rally.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has attributed the violence to foreign actors, specifically accusing Russia and Iran of driving online misinformation. He also called for dialogue, a message symbolized by red cushions placed outside the government headquarters on Saturday. Protesters later set those cushions on fire.

The current demonstrations are part of a wider campaign against corruption and high living costs that has been ongoing since May. That timeline began when news emerged of a luxury hotel project linked to the family of U.S. President Donald Trump. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the Socialist leader, while also carrying signs criticizing his center-right rival, Sali Berisha.