Fire Breaks Out on Ground Floor of Building Under Construction During Tirana Protest

 

The protest that began in the morning outside Albania’s Ministry of Education escalated during the day, with acts of violence reported against several major institutions in the capital.

On Wednesday evening, protesters set fire to the first floor of a tower under construction near the beginning of Durrës Street in Tirana.

Firefighters were reportedly unable to reach the scene and intervene because the road was obstructed by metal bars, debris and traffic lights that had been knocked to the ground by protesters.

The incident added to the escalating tensions in the Albanian capital, where the student demonstration and the wider protests have been accompanied by clashes, property damage and growing security concerns.