Albanian police fire tear gas at protesters as Education Ministry attacked

At least 23 protesters have been arrested in demonstrations in the capital.Albanian riot police have fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of student demonstrators protesting over education and social conditions in the capital Tirana.Protesters hurled bricks and concrete blocks at the Education Ministry on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Dozens of journalists in India detained while covering anti-gov’t protestslist 2 of 3Global pro-Palestinian protests one year after Gaza ‘ceasefire’list 3 of 3Photos: French protests over school conditions swellend of listStudent organisers said the protest was over conditions at universities, higher education costs, financial support and employment prospects after graduation.Hooded men try to break through a gate at the Education Ministry as the Albanian word “Resign” is displayed on a wall during clashes in Tirana, Albania on Tuesday [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]At least six officers and one female journalist were injured, according to a statement by police, and 23 people were arrested.Police called on the protesters to stop attacking the ministry, but some attendees continued to assault officers with Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, stones and other hard objects, the statement said.Protesters said they wanted to express frustration with inequality and government economic policies.“What Albania needs is a revolution, a change, a complete overthrow of the system because it can’t go on like this,” protester Luljeta Kola said. She added that there was a deep social divide between the rich and the poor in the country.A riot police officer detains an injured protester during clashes near the Ministry of Education in Tirana, Albania, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026 [Hameraldi Agolli/AP]Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu wrote on Facebook: “Violence has not been, is not, and will never be a solution. Throwing stones, attacking institutions and the state police, as well as the senseless destruction of public property, are not how youth should express themselves.”