Thousands of students in Tirana set fire to government buildings and attacked shops as protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama intensified, with at least one building burning and police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds.
Protesters, some wearing masks, clashed with riot police and set fire to the education ministry building, while others attacked the prime minister's office and finance ministry. Demonstrators also smashed windows and broke down doors at the finance ministry, with some briefly entering the building.
The unrest follows months of anti-government protests sparked by a luxury resort project linked to Trump's son-in-law, with protesters demanding Rama's resignation and calling for reforms against corruption and poor university conditions. Officials have condemned the violence, urging protesters to avoid vandalism and violence.
Government officials and opposition leaders have criticized the violence, with the opposition's leader praising the protesters' determination to change the system, while Interior Minister Ervin Demo blamed 'malicious hands of outsiders' for the destruction.