Fireworks, petrol bombs and water cannon as unrest escalates in Albania

Protesters threw petrol bombs and fireworks at police in Tirana on Monday, as anti-government demonstrations escalated and riot police responded with water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets.

Violent clashes erupted in Albania’s capital, Tirana, on Monday as protesters threw Molotov cocktails, fireworks and stones at police, who responded with water cannon.

Demonstrators also set rubbish bins on fire as riot police advanced through the streets. The unrest comes amid months of anti-government protests fuelled by anger over corruption, demands for better university conditions and calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.

Rama accused demonstrators of crossing a “red line”, saying protests were a right but violence was a crime. Authorities said around 300 people had been injured in the clashes, more than half of them police officers.