{
  "id": 15305526,
  "title": "Albanian capital sees fifth straight day of violent clashes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/albanian-capital-sees-fifth-straight-day-of-violent-clashes-15305526",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T23:31:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/18/albanian-capital-sees-fifth-straight-day-of-violent-clashes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Saturday, Albania's capital Tirana witnessed violent clashes for the fifth consecutive day, as police responded to anti-government protests with rubber bullets, water cannons, pepper spray, and tear gas, according to AFP journalists on the ground. Protesters, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation, hurled rocks, Molotov cocktails, metal objects, and pyrotechnic devices, setting buildings ablaze, including a court, banks, and a post office. The health ministry reported 35 wounded on Saturday, with 18 police and 17 protesters, while ambulance crews dealt with injured individuals throughout the day. Rubber bullets were used in a limited manner, as stated by the state police director Skender Hita, who emphasized that only certified equipment was employed, in line with EU regulations. Over the week, 167 individuals were arrested, and criminal proceedings were initiated against 388. Seven police officers were suspended and under disciplinary investigation. Despite the escalating violence, protesters vowed to continue, expressing discontent with the government's handling of university conditions and high tuition fees. President Rama acknowledged the students' right to protest but warned against jeopardizing the nation's future.",
  "summary": "Protesters hurled rocks, Molotov cocktails and other objects at police officers, who fired rubber bullets for the first time since the protests began, with 35 people wounded in the violence.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Albanian capital sees fifth straight day of violent clashes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/albanian-capital-sees-fifth-straight-day-of-violent-clashes",
        "published": "2026-10-17T23:31:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}