A protest that lasted more than eight hours outside the Ministry of Education ended with arrests and a damage toll that, so far, has been presented mainly through the police’s official account. According to the authorities’ statement, 16 people were arrested, while investigations are continuing to identify others suspected of taking part in the incidents during the gathering.
Police raise the arrest count
After the rally held on October 13, 2026, in Tirana, police said they had caught 16 people in the act. A lower number had been reported earlier, before the total was later updated by the authorities themselves.
According to police, the arrests are linked to episodes of violence recorded during the student protest outside the Ministry of Education, where there were clashes with officers and damage to public and private property.
What the official version claims about the incidents
In its statement, police said that at around 14:00 some masked participants threw hard objects, stone slabs, firecrackers and Molotov cocktails at law enforcement officers, government buildings, private businesses and public spaces.
According to the same account, the incidents damaged the fences, walls and windows of the Ministry of Education, as well as road signs, advertising boards and other structures around the protest area.
Damage also reported at institutions and businesses
Authorities claim that items were broken and burned inside the premises of a microfinance institution, while the glass facade of a second-tier bank was also damaged.
On “Ded Gjon Luli” street, according to police, one of the doors of the Tirana Municipality building was forced open and the first floor was set on fire.
Police also report injured officers
According to the official statement, throughout the gathering police officers faced continuous violence from groups of masked participants. Authorities say six officers were injured in the clashes.
Several criminal offenses were cited for the 16 people arrested, including “Assault due to duty,” “Disturbing public order and peace,” “Destruction of property,” “Destruction of property by fire,” and resisting a public order officer.
Investigations under the direction of the Tirana Prosecution Office
Police said the actions are being carried out under the direction of the Tirana Prosecution Office and that work is continuing to identify other people suspected of involvement in the acts of violence.
At this stage, the public picture of the event is based on statements by law enforcement institutions, while it remains to be verified whether individual responsibility will be proven with full evidence for each of those detained.
The procedural materials have been referred to the Tirana Prosecution Office for further action.
At this point, authorities have not made public more information about the individual circumstances of each arrest beyond the list of criminal offenses mentioned in the statement.