Fire erupts at Albania’s Education Ministry as protests enter third day

At least 16 additional protesters have been arrested after clashing with riot police.Protesters started a blaze at Albania’s Education Ministry overnight after a second day of student protests in the country’s capital Tirana that continue unabated.Demonstrators broke in overnight on Tuesday and lit a fire inside of the building, according to police, adding that the violence resulted in 16 arrests.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Activist Greta Thunberg joins French student protestslist 2 of 3Presidential hopeful Melenchon joins France school protest marchlist 3 of 3India’s ‘Cockroach’ leaders jailed after entering ‘banned’ protest siteend of listProtesters continued to rally on Wednesday. Hundreds of students gathered and slung rocks at the ministry, as they demanded better university conditions and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.In an attempt to break up the crowds, riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons.A protester throws a brick at police during clashes with riot police in central Tirana on October 14, 2026 [AFP]Demonstrators also ripped out nearby fencing and used it to block the street.Hundreds of people rallied on Tuesday in front of the Education Ministry, after fierce protests broke out in Tirana on Monday.“Protesting is a legitimate right, but it cannot be used as an excuse for violence, city destruction or ugly fighting in the middle of the road,” Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu said on Facebook.“I call on students and every honest citizen who believes in the right to protest: Distance yourself from violence and vandalism!”Protesters throw bricks at police during clashes in central Tirana on October 14, 2026 [AFP]‘Flamingo Revolution’Besar Likmeta, editor at the Albania" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="217739" data-entity-type="organization">Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania, told Al Jazeera that “this protest came on the back of four months of daily rallies on the main streets of the capital”, known as the “Flamingo Revolution“.