The protest called by students outside the Ministry of Education quickly escalated into a serious clash with police, after the gathering began with egg-throwing and damage to the building. The toll reported so far includes 23 arrests, people injured at the scene, and the use of force by police to push back the crowd.
From protest gathering to scenes of violence outside the building
Tension appeared from the first minutes of the gathering, when protesters threw eggs and sprayed paint on the walls of the Ministry of Education.
The situation then worsened further: metal railings on the sidewalk were torn out and bricks were taken and thrown toward the building, causing windows to be shattered.
At the height of the clash, some protesters entered the institution’s perimeter and harsh chants were heard, while there were also attempts to tear open the iron gate and enter the building.
Police intervention with cordon, batons and dispersal means
According to the official version on the ground, police intervened by setting up a cordon in front of the building and then used batons to move protesters away.
A water cannon truck was also deployed at the scene, a measure used to disperse the crowd at the moments when the clash intensified.
The use of tear gas was also reported, in a scene that raised questions about the way a student protest at a public institution in the middle of the capital was managed.
Injuries and arrests during several hours of tension
From the clashes at the scene, it was reported that a female protester suffered a head injury and was seen bleeding, while other people were also said to have been injured.
The reported toll so far stands at 23 arrests, while those affected also include police officers and an injured journalist.
For several hours, the area in front of the Ministry of Education remained tense, with an increased presence of police forces and water cannon vehicles.
The crowd dispersed, but gathered again
Even after the intervention with pressurized water, the protesters did not withdraw completely. After dispersing at one point, they gathered again in front of the ministry.
Calls were heard at the scene not to give up, showing that the situation remained unstable even after the police action.
In the absence of a fuller picture of the causes and the institutional handling of this day, what remains clear is that the protest quickly spiraled out of control and turned into a test of strength between young people and the uniformed forces.
Footage and reporting from the scene show a protest that began as a gathering outside the Ministry of Education and ended in serious clashes, with damage, arrests and injuries.
Responsibility for the escalation, both on the part of the protesters and in the way police responded, remains part of a debate that requires transparency and public clarification.