Clashes during a protest held near the Ministry of Education have prompted an official reaction from the State Police, which says 23 people were detained and seven were injured. The police version claims that a group of protesters moved from the gathering to acts of violence against the building and officers on the ground.
What police say about the incident
According to police, during the protest held around midday today near the Ministry of Education building in Tirana, a group of participants damaged the outer perimeter, the entrance gate and the facade of the institution.
In the same statement, police claim that officers on the ground were struck with Molotov cocktails, stones, firecrackers and hard objects, while repeated calls were made to stop the attack and leave the building’s courtyard.
Preliminary toll: detained and injured
According to figures made public by the State Police, 23 people were detained for further procedural actions.
Police say that six officers of the National Security Force and one journalist were injured in the clashes. Authorities add that the injured are out of danger for their lives.
How the official version justifies the intervention
The institution says that a security plan had been prepared in advance for the gathering, with the stated aim of guaranteeing order and public safety in the area near the ministry.
According to the official version, after participants failed to obey police calls, officers on the ground intervened proportionately to neutralize those involved and restore order. So far, there is no independent public account of the full circumstances of the clash.
Investigation launched with the Prosecution
The police and the Prosecution in Tirana have launched investigative and procedural actions to identify the people suspected of taking part in violent acts during the gathering.
Authorities warn of criminal liability for those involved, while the statement also repeats the position that the right to peaceful assembly must be exercised without undermining public order.
At this stage, the incident remains based mainly on the version provided by police, while the investigation is expected to clarify more precisely the full dynamics of the clashes.
In the absence of other publicly verified data, both the real extent of the violence and the individual responsibilities of those involved remain to be clarified.