Albania protests turned violent for the sixth day as Prime Minister Rama refused to resign. Protesters threw stones and petrol bombs at government buildings in Tirana. The Health Ministry reported 272 injuries across the unrest since Tuesday. Official Albert Nushi said, "the attack on the police station had endangered officers."
Police station and government buildings targeted in Tirana as anger over university costs and corruption fuels unrest
Some protesters hurled stones, petrol bombs and fireworks at officers. Rubbish bins were set alight, windows were smashed at buildings including the governing Socialist Party's headquarters, and fires broke out at a police station and the Interior Ministry entrance.
Ambulances moved between the affected areas to collect the injured.
The Health Ministry's Sunday tally recorded 28 injuries: 19 police officers, four protesters, four passers-by and a journalist. An earlier account had put the number of injured officers at 16.
Albert Nushi, an official in the police public security department, said the attack on the police station had endangered officers and people in custody. He condemned the violence and urged peaceful demonstrators to distance themselves from masked individuals involved in attacks.
Businesses had secured their premises with metal shutters ahead of the gathering. Municipal workers also removed paving stones to prevent their use as projectiles.
Rama rejects resignation demands
In a video address lasting more than an hour, Rama ruled out leaving office and attributed the unrest to outside interference.
His scheduled Monday meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker was cancelled by the Albanian side, according to Austria's federal press service.
Protesters, meanwhile, said their demands extended beyond education costs to wider concerns about governance and accountability.
Writer and activist Lura Elezi told AFP she was demonstrating for better living conditions, the rule of law and action against crime and corruption. She urged citizens to take responsibility for the country without destroying it.
Injuries mount after weekend clashes
Sunday's confrontations followed particularly severe violence on Saturday, when protesters used burning vehicles and rubbish bins as barricades and threw stones, metal objects, petrol bombs and fireworks at police.
A court building, banks and a post office were among the premises set ablaze or badly damaged.
The Health Ministry said 65 people, including 37 police officers, were injured on Saturday, with 12 requiring hospitalisation. Across the unrest since Tuesday, the ministry reported 272 injuries, including 169 among police personnel.
The US embassy in Tirana appealed for restraint from all sides. The European Commission condemned violence in Tirana and other cities, while stressing that the authorities' response must remain proportionate.
The commission urged peaceful dialogue to address grievances, citing Albania's commitment to the European Union accession process.
The latest clashes follow months of anti-government demonstrations, initially triggered by opposition to a controversial resort development linked to US President Donald Trump's family.