TIRANA, Oct 13 /ATA/ The protest staged by students and citizens outside the Ministry of Education has ended after more than eight hours of tension, clashes with police, rubbish bins being set on fire, and damage to public institutions and private businesses.
The protest, which began at 14:00 outside the Ministry of Education, escalated into acts of violence and heightened tensions. During the protest, demonstrators smashed windows and entered the premises of at least two businesses on Durrës Street.
After clashing with police, protesters threw stones and other hard objects at the windows of a private financial institution and a clothing shop, damaging their premises. They then entered the financial institution, took items and furnishings outside and set them on fire in the street, as seen in footage filmed by the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATSH).
The protest by students and citizens began at 14:00, with some students throwing stones and other hard objects from the outset, initially at the Ministry of Education building and later at the police.
Despite police intervention, students and citizens continued their protest into the evening. During the demonstration, students set fire to cardboard, rubbish bins and several advertising boards placed along the road, and removed the railings installed along the street.
The protesters then moved from Durrës Street to Tirana City Hall, where they threw stones at the building and forced open its door. Police intervened immediately to disperse the protesters and detained several of them.
Police used tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd of protesting students.
The State Police reported that, following the incidents, 23 protesters had been taken into custody for further procedural action.
Six officers from the National Security Force and one female journalist were injured.
Meanwhile, three protesters sought medical attention at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Centre (QSUNT) after experiencing health problems following exposure to tear gas. After consulting doctors, two of them were discharged from hospital, while the third continues to undergo examinations by emergency department staff.
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