Albanian police use tear gas and water cannons as anti-government protests turn violent in Tirana

Summary

Anti-government protests in Tirana, Albania, turned violent on Saturday, October 24, as opposition supporters and students mobilised in the capital. Euronews reports that riot police used water cannons on large groups of protesters, and that authorities said 2,500 police officers were deployed to the streets. The Straits Times reports that police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while protesters threw rocks at officers and started a fire at the door of the agriculture ministry in Tirana. The Hindu reports that student-led demonstrations, fuelled by anger over perceived government corruption, have engulfed central Tirana and spread to other cities this month. Al Jazeera describes running battles between protesters and police on the 12th day of anti-government protests.

Timeline

1. Euronews

   24 Oct 2026, 12:56 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that opposition supporters and students mobilised in Tirana, that riot police used water cannons on large groups of protesters, and that authorities said 2,500 police officers were deployed to the streets.

2. The Straits Times

   24 Oct 2026, 17:12 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Albanian police used tear gas and rubber bullets against anti-government student protesters, who threw rocks at officers and started a fire at the door of the agriculture ministry in Tirana.

3. The Hindu

   24 Oct 2026, 19:13 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu reports that Albanian police fired tear gas as student-led demonstrations, fuelled by anger over perceived government corruption, engulfed central Tirana and spread to other cities this month.

4. Al Jazeera

   24 Oct 2026, 20:39 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that protesters in Albania fought running battles with police on the 12th day of anti-government protests.