Protester throws Molotov cocktail at Edi Rama's office in Tirana
A Molotov cocktail hit the prime minister's office on 20 October 2026 as clashes with police escalated during days of protests.
A protester threw a Molotov cocktail at the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana on 20 October 2026, escalating a wave of demonstrations that have shaken the Albanian capital for several days.
Police replied with tear gas and water cannon, and clashes soon intensified as demonstrators began throwing stones at security forces. According to initial reports, officers also fired rubber bullets.
How the confrontation unfolded
Protesters set fire to rubbish bins and placed them in the middle of the road to block movement by police vehicles. The incident added to a sequence of confrontations that authorities have been managing in central Tirana.
The demonstrations, which have turned violent on multiple days, are driven by citizens demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Rama has responded that political power is changed at the ballot box and has accused a foreign factor of being behind the protests.
Officials described the ammunition used by police as non-lethal in the first accounts, while investigators and eyewitnesses continue to document the night's events. The situation remains tense as protests continue across the city.
Photo: press material from the event
