Albanian protesters fire fireworks at police as unrest escalates
Anti-government protesters in Albania fired fireworks and threw petrol bombs at police as violent clashes swept through the capital, Tirana, on Saturday, 24 October, amid growing demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama‘s resignation.
Student-led demonstrations began outside the Ministry of Education at around 2 p.m. before spreading to Skanderbeg Square, the prime minister’s office and surrounding streets. Riot police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons as masked demonstrators attacked officers and government buildings.
🇦🇱 Firework show tonight in protests in Albania. https://t.co/i2q2OXOMA6
— kos_data (@kos_data) October 24, 2026
Protesters launched fireworks towards police lines, threw stones and Molotov cocktails and set rubbish bins alight. Some dismantled paving stones to use as projectiles, while others built burning barricades that disrupted traffic.
Fires broke out at the entrances to the Agriculture Ministry, Environment Ministry and Tirana Municipality. Firefighters brought several of the blazes under control.
According to Albanian public broadcaster RTSH, one police officer reportedly caught fire during the clashes before colleagues intervened. Demonstrators also damaged a bank branch, a bus stop and other property in central Tirana.
Chaos in Tirana, Albania Albania is on fire as protests against PM Edi Rama continue. https://t.co/Aeg0uH4Dz1
— Sprinter Press (@Sprinter_Press) October 24, 2026
Why are Albanians protesting?
The unrest began in mid-October when students took to the streets over education costs, poor university conditions and limited employment opportunities.
The demonstrations quickly expanded into a broader anti-government movement, with participants accusing Rama’s administration of corruption and demanding his resignation.
🇦🇱 You’ve gotta give it to Albania: You don’t hear about them often… but they bring ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ to a whole new level! They get ‘Best of Show’ among all these ‘peaceful protests’! Writer: Jamie https://t.co/jK3guqSbyt
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 25, 2026
The current protests follow months of largely peaceful demonstrations against a proposed luxury tourism development on Albania’s southern coast linked to an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law.
Rama, who has governed Albania since 2013 and secured a fourth term in 2025, has rejected demands to step down. He has accused political opponents of encouraging violence and defended the government’s response.
Intense scenes from the protests in Albania. Protesters use lasers and fireworks against police water cannons during the night clashes. 🇦🇱 #AlbaniaProtests #Tirana https://t.co/G5xorkktxn
— Absurd World (@Absurd__World) October 24, 2026
Hundreds detained as clashes continue
The latest violence follows nearly two weeks of confrontations between demonstrators and security forces.
By 17 October, police had detained approximately 500 people, according to figures reported by Reuters. Of those, 330 had been released. At least 120 officers and 45 protesters had been registered as injured.
Protests escalate in Tirana, Albania, as students join anti-government demonstrations. Clashes break out as protesters throw stones and police respond with water cannons. https://t.co/FOh86735ez
— euronews (@euronews) October 24, 2026
On 17 October, National Police Chief Skender Hita said seven officers had been suspended pending investigations into allegations of misconduct during the protests.
Protesters continued launching fireworks and petrol bombs during subsequent clashes. Reuters footage recorded on 20 October showed demonstrators throwing incendiary devices towards police vehicles as officers advanced with water cannons.
The full number of arrests and injuries from Saturday’s demonstrations has not yet been independently confirmed.
🚨🇦🇱Albania is burning as protests against Edi Rama’s pro-EU regime continue. Protesters have just set fire to Albania’s Environment Ministry building in Tirana. Chaos erupted after Albanian dictator Edi Rama ordered mass arrests of teenagers and students. https://t.co/XBbwlN5o63
— Mario ZNA (@MarioBojic) October 24, 2026
Rama has maintained that he will not resign, while protesters have continued gathering outside government buildings despite police efforts to disperse them.
The escalating confrontation comes as Albania pursues membership of the European Union, placing additional scrutiny on the government’s handling of public demonstrations and allegations of corruption.
