19.10.2026 23:12
As protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama continue in Albania, footage has emerged of a convoy of military vehicles in the capital, Tirana. While it is not yet clear whether the army will intervene in the protests, Prime Minister Rama claimed that a drone carrying explosives was neutralized while it was preparing to attack the Prime Ministry building. In the country, where protesters attacked public buildings, many people were injured in clashes with police.
Tension remains high in anti-government protests that have been ongoing for days in Albania. Images of trucks carrying military personnel and other military vehicles moving through the city center of the capital Tirana drew attention. While no official statement has been made on whether the convoy is connected to the protests, clashes between protesters and security forces continue.
MILITARY CONVOY IN THE STREETS OF TIRANA
In footage alleged to have been recorded in Tirana, military trucks carrying uniformed personnel are seen advancing in a convoy.
The footage, which emerged at a time when the protests were intensifying, raised the question of whether the army had also been included in security measures. However, there is no verified information that soldiers intervened against protesters or that the army was tasked with suppressing the protests.
ALLEGED ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON PRIME MINISTRY BUILDING WITH EXPLOSIVE-LADEN DRONE
Speaking on the sixth day of protests in the country, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that an attempted attack alleged to have targeted the Prime Ministry building had been prevented.
Rama, who claimed that a drone carrying explosives had been neutralized two days earlier, said the attack aimed to hit the building and start a fire in its courtyard.
Rama, who argued that there had been external interference in the protests, accused Iran of disinformation activities. However, no independent verification has yet been made regarding the prime minister's drone claim.
“I AM NOT THE TARGET, NOR IS THE GOVERNMENT”
During his statement, Rama picked up a paving stone and, noting that stones removed by protesters were being used against security forces, said, “This is one of thousands of stones removed from Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard to be thrown at police. This is a weapon that can be effectively lethal.”
Rama, arguing that the main purpose of the protests was not to overthrow the government, used the words, “I am not the target, nor is the government. Albania's EU accession in 2030.”
Emphasizing that they would not back down in the face of violence, the prime minister also stated that they were open to dialogue for a solution.
Before Rama's statements, it was reported that RENEA, a special unit of the Albanian police serving in counterterrorism and serious crime operations, had been deployed around the Prime Ministry building.
OPPOSITION CALLS FOR RESIGNATION
Sali Berisha, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, reacted to the prime minister's claim of a drone attack.
Berisha, describing the claim as a “fantasy film,” accused the government of corruption and called on Rama to leave office.
Berisha said, “There is only one solution to achieve normalization in this country. Tens of thousands of university and high school students have expressed this clearly while continuing their heroic protests. The solution is this: Rama, resign.”
ATTACK ON SOCIALIST PARTY HEADQUARTERS
In the protests held in the capital on October 18, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Ministry of Education. Police intervened against the crowd demanding the prime minister's resignation with tear gas and pressurized water.
After the intervention, some protesters who dispersed to different parts of the city headed toward the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party. The building's windows were broken and its entrance was also damaged.
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS THROWN AT MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING
During the clashes, fires broke out in various parts of the capital due to Molotov cocktails and flammable materials thrown by protesters.
It was reported that a fire also broke out at a police station and at the entrance of the Ministry of Infrastructure building. In the incidents where protesters used stones, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails, security forces responded with plastic bullets, tear gas, and pressurized water.
SKANDERBEG SQUARE TURNED INTO A BATTLEFIELD
Due to the protests, Skanderbeg Square, one of the capital's symbols, turned into a battlefield as a result of violent clashes. Some young protesters headed to this area because of the pressurized water and tear gas intervention against them. The protesters continued to protest the Rama government and demand the prime minister's resignation.
CONDEMNATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Meanwhile, the European Commission, in a statement it issued, condemned the violence during the protests in Tirana and other cities. While it was emphasized that the response to violence must be lawful and proportionate, it was also underlined that freedom of assembly and expression are rights that must be exercised peacefully. The Commission expressed that it welcomed the Albanian authorities' commitment to protecting the right to protest, while calling on the parties to engage in dialogue.