Protests Erupt in Tirana: Police Use Water Cannons Against Demonstrators Outside Parliament

Tensions flared outside Albania's Parliament in Tirana as protesters clashed with police during a plenary session. Demonstrators hurled eggs and tomatoes at lawmakers' vehicles and security forces, prompting police to deploy water cannons to disperse the crowd.

According to reports, the clashes intensified when protesters managed to breach an initial security barrier before being pushed back by police. The scene outside the Parliament became a visible divide between the demonstrators attempting to break through the police cordon and the arriving lawmakers.

Explosive devices, identified as firecrackers, were also thrown by protesters towards the security perimeter, reportedly injuring at least one police officer. Police intervened to de-escalate the situation, but the atmosphere remained tense. Several officers were transported to the hospital with injuries sustained during the confrontations.

Despite the high tensions and police intervention, citizens continued their protest outside the building, while the parliamentary session proceeded normally inside. One protester was arrested for allegedly placing garbage containers in the street to block traffic.