Protests spread to Elbasan, Shkodër and Korçë; clashes in Tirana until night
On 16 October, the fourth day of protests, unrest spread beyond Tirana. The interior minister reported 156 injured, including 97 police officers.
On Friday, 16 October, police clashed with protesters again outside the Education Ministry in Tirana. Some protesters tried to force their way into government offices on the main boulevard. Bins were set on fire to block roads, and clashes in several parts of the city continued into the night. AFP journalists saw masked groups smashing shop fronts and looting stores.
According to local media, the protests spread to Elbasan, Shkodër and Korçë, where windows were broken and rubbish bins set on fire.
Police reported 160 people detained over violence on the evening of 15 October. Interior Minister Ervin Demo said 156 people had been injured in recent days, including 97 police officers, and that two officers had been suspended for excessive use of force.
Prime Minister Edi Rama blamed "foreign hands" for the unrest and again refused to resign.
Sources
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