The third day of the protest in Tirana was marked by a sharp escalation of violence at several points across the capital. According to the official version, masked protesters attacked institutions, banks, businesses and police officers, while the intervention of law enforcement was carried out with tear gas, water and spray. The preliminary toll stands at 26 injured.
Clashes began in the morning
From 09:00, tensions returned to the streets of Tirana, marking the third day of the protest with serious scenes in several parts of the city. Initially, a gathering was reported near the Ministry of Education, where damage was caused to the building and to businesses along Durrës Street.
Later, the movement of protesters shifted toward Parliament and then near other central institutions, turning the center of the capital into a tense zone for hours.
The Prime Minister’s Office and institutions targeted
The strongest clashes were recorded at the Prime Minister’s Office, where tensions lasted around an hour and a half. Bricks and hard objects were thrown at the building, while police responded with tear gas and water tankers.
Attacks were also reported against the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Environment. In some cases, windows were smashed, while stones and fireworks were thrown at the buildings. The premises of the Puppet Theatre were also damaged.
There were also tensions near Tirana Municipality and the headquarters of the Socialist Party, where police intervention aimed to disperse the crowd amid continued clashes.
Banks, kiosks and businesses damaged
In addition to institutions, private entities also became targets. At least four second-tier banks were attacked in different areas of Tirana, with damage to entrances, windows, doors and ATMs. In some cases, protesters entered the premises after breaking security barriers.
In one of the most serious episodes, files and documents were taken out of a bank after the security alarm was activated. Shops belonging to telephone companies, as well as other businesses on several axes of the capital, were also attacked.
Several kiosks were also burned in central Tirana. The fire also affected the guard booth near the Cyber Security Agency, as well as the guard booth near the U.S. Embassy.
Injury toll and Rama’s reaction
According to official data reported during the day, 26 people were injured in the incidents. Two police officers, one from Durrës and one from Shkodra, were reported in hospital.
At the height of the tensions, Prime Minister Edi Rama ruled out resigning. In his response to Reuters, he said governments are changed through democratic elections and not through violence, while expressing readiness for dialogue with the students and to address their legitimate demands.
The statement comes as the situation on the ground in Tirana showed a serious escalation of the crisis in the streets, with visible consequences both for public buildings and private property.
Footage from several areas of the capital showed extensive material damage, while central Tirana remained under tension for long hours.
Amid official tolls and political statements, what remains clear is the high level of confrontation on the ground and the direct cost it left behind for the city.