TIRANA, Oct. 15 /ATA/ – Young protesters continued acts of violence and vandalism in Tirana on Thursday, the third day of demonstrations, damaging public spaces and businesses across Albania’s capital.
After moving away from the area around the Ministry of Education, protesters set fire to refrigerators taken from kiosks they had destroyed along the way, causing damage to public property and nearby businesses.
The protesters regrouped at Durrës Street, behind Tirana’s National Historical Museum. They also tore branches from trees and threw them onto the fires, while smashing windows at nearby businesses.
Protesters also attempted to attack the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party and the Bank of Albania, but police fired tear gas to disperse them.
Tensions remained high on several streets connecting to Durrës Street, where clashes between protesters and police continued. Demonstrators also began tearing down metal railings in central Tirana.
The protesters then moved to the main Skanderbeg Square and headed towards Tirana City Hall, throwing stones at the building. Police responded with tear gas. Demonstrators later attacked the Puppet Theatre, hurling stones at the building.
Police also fired tear gas at protesters gathered in Skanderbeg Square, where demonstrators remained.
In a separate incident, protesters broke into and ransacked the interior of a commercial bank near the Unknown Soldier Square. They initially attacked the building’s facade and an ATM before entering and damaging its interior. Some protesters, including masked individuals, removed documents from the bank and set them on fire in the street.
Acts of vandalism continued against businesses near the Taiwan complex, where protesters also smashed the windows of another commercial bank.
Clashes between protesters and police were also reported at the entrance to the former Blloku district, where officers used tear gas. Protesters also set fire to a security booth near the former Russian embassy.
The demonstrators continued along Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard, heading towards the prime minister’s office.
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