Albanian protestors burn Christmas tree after man ‘killed for breaking coronavirus curfew’

Nine police officers and two protesters injured during clashes, says Health Ministry

Protesters in the Albanian capital of Tirana set fire to a Christmas tree outside the country’s parliament after a man was fatally shot by police for breaking a coronavirus-related curfew.

The death of 25-year-old Klodian Rasha on Tuesday night sparked the protests, with hundreds of Albanians taking to the streets and defying a government ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people due to the pandemic.

Protesters threw stones and flares at police on Wednesday, as well as at the interior ministry, the Tirana city hall and the main government buildings.

They also attempted to force their way into the government complex that houses Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office, chanting “Rama go!” and “I am Klodian” as police fired tear gas to disperse them.

A police spokesperson, Gentian Mullai, told The Associated Press that nine officers were injured in the clashes and parked police cars sustained damage.

According to the Health Ministry, one of the injured police officers was in serious condition and will require surgery. Two protesters were also injured, said the ministry.

In a statement, police called on protest organisers to stop calls for violence. It added that an officer has been detained and an investigation has been launched over his possible role in the death of Rasha.

“The unacceptable episode of the killing of a citizen by a police officer… cannot be exploited as a pretext to exercise blind violence, to seriously injure police officers and damage public and private property,” said the statement.

The police had initially said that Rasha failed to follow an officer’s order to stop and that he had carried a weapon. But later, they said the man was holding an object that was not a weapon as they said previously.

Protesters torched the Christmas tree before knocking it down, and also damaged New Year decorations at the main Skanderberg Square. Later on Wednesday, they targeted the Tirana police station and set fire to trash bins.

A Christmas tree is on fire near the Prime's Minister office during clashes in Tirana, Albania (AP)

Authorities in Albania have imposed social restrictions including prohibiting gatherings, mandatory mask wearing and an overnight curfew in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19.

Prime minister Rama is currently in the United States. On Wednesday, he met with Pfizer officials in order to try and secure deliveries of the firm’s vaccine candidate for Albania.

Additional reporting by agencies