At the appeal court of Albania during the hearing, the suspect opened fire, as a result of which the judge was killed and two more people were injured. reports The Guardian.
The tragedy happened in the capital of the country, Tirana. According to the police, the incident occurred during consideration of a property dispute. Judge Astrit Kalaya, who presided over the hearing, suffered a gunshot wound and was rushed to hospital, but died on the way. Two more participants in the process, a father and a son, who were also injured, were hospitalized, their condition is assessed as stable. The police noted that the shooter was immediately detained after trying to flee the scene.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called the incident “tragic” and called for stronger accountability for gun crimes.
He emphasized that such actions require the “strictest legal response against the aggressor”:
“This event requires an understanding of the system of internal security of courts, which cannot remain a matter of choosing between private police in the name of judicial independence. This tragic event is the most indisputable argument in support of a significant strengthening of the Criminal Code regarding punishment for illegal possession of weapons.
He also stressed that any tolerance in the courts for people carrying guns without a permit must end, calling for even tougher measures.
Albanian President Bayram Begaj condemned the shooting in a statement, calling it a “horrible attack on the entire justice system”.
