Albanian police use tear gas and pepper spray as Tirana protest turns violent

Albanian police use tear gas and pepper spray as Tirana protest turns violent 1 of 5 | A riot police officer uses pepper spray against a protester during clashes at an anti-government rally in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli) 2 of 5 | Protesters try to remove a barricade as police hold it during clashes at an anti-government rally in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli) 3 of 5 | Police detain a protester during clashes at an anti-government rally in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli) 4 of 5 | Police use a water cannon during clashes at an anti-government rally in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli) 5 of 5 | A protester uses a flag to wipe flour from a police officer’s face during clashes at an anti-government rally in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli) By HAMERALDI AGOLLI and ZANA CIMILI Updated 4:39 PM MESZ, July 2, 2026 Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Tirana, Albania (AP) — Albanian police clashed with protesters Thursday as an anti-government demonstration — part of protests triggered by plans for a luxury development linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner — turned violent. Police fired tear gas and pepper spray at protesters who were pelting them with rocks, eggs and other objects. Authorities said 12 police officers were injured and 18 protesters were detained. The gathering was part of daily protests, dubbed the “ flamingo revolution,” that began more than a month ago in opposition to plans for a luxury coastal development project linked to Kushner. While the protests stemmed from environmental issues related to the development project, they have morphed into more general political demonstrations voicing opposition against the government and Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in recent weeks, blowing whistles and holding cardboard cut-outs of flamingos — one of the protected migratory bird species whose habitats could be threatened by the proposed resort on the Adriatic coast. US and Iran hold separate meetings in Qatar and agree to continue discussions 4 MIN READ 145 US envoys arrive in Qatar for meetings on Iran, with tensions high over Hormuz 2 MIN READ 89 Meet 3 members of Albania’s ‘flamingo revolution’ trying to torpedo a Kushner-linked development 4 MIN READ 40 The government says the development at Narta Lagoon would be transformational for the former communist nation as it seeks to enter the high-end tourism market and pushes for European Union membership. But the venture, spanning an abandoned island and a nearby stretch of seafront, has drawn opposition from environmental campaigners and critics of Rama’s government. On Thursday, several hundred protesters gathered outside the Albanian parliament in Tirana, demanding the prime minister’s resignation and chanting “Rama has to go to jail.” Some hurled rocks, eggs and plastic bottles at police, and used part of a metal barrier to smash the windows of a police car. Police used tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon to disperse the crowd. “The protesters want their voice to be heard inside (the parliament), as the prime minister for so many days has not heard them and has ignored them,” said protester Agustela Thoma. “But enough is enough.” Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari condemned “the acts of vandalism and criminal violence” against the police. “Police officers are public servants, citizens of the Republic, and family members just like everyone else. They serve the law, public order, and the safety of every citizen, without distinction. An attack against them is an attack against the state,” the minister added.