Tensions erupted near the Prime Minister’s Office just minutes after some of the protesters arrived on the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard, turning the gathering into a direct confrontation with law enforcement.
Clashes began as soon as the crowd approached the building
According to information from the scene, the first incidents were recorded immediately after protesters approached the front of the Prime Minister’s Office building.
The situation grew tense at the top of the boulevard, where Police officers were lined up facing the crowd.
Stones and firecrackers reportedly thrown at police
According to the version reported from the scene, some protesters threw stones and firecrackers toward Police forces.
At this stage, there is no complete information on injured people or detentions, while the dynamics of the incident remain unclear beyond the first images from the scene.
Police responded with tear gas
In response, Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and prevent it from approaching the security cordon.
Water cannon vehicles, however, had not yet been put into use at the time of reporting.
High tension at a sensitive institutional site
The rapid escalation of the situation near the seat of government once again puts at the center of debate the way protests are managed and the use of force by law enforcement institutions.
In the absence of a full official tally, it remains to be seen whether the police response was proportional to developments on the ground and how the protest will be managed further.
The incident unfolded at one of Tirana’s most sensitive locations, where any escalation brings not only tension in the streets, but also questions over the institutional management of the protest.
For the moment, what is known is that the clash began within minutes and that the police’s first intervention was with tear gas.