A shooting incident occurred in a courtroom in the capital city of Albania, Tirana, on Monday, as a man on trial opened fire, resulting in the death of the judge and injuries to two others, according to the police. The Appeals court judge Astrit Kalaja was presiding over the trial when the accused suddenly began shooting. The shooter was swiftly apprehended following the incident.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, the judge succumbed to his injuries during transit, as per a police report. The other individuals involved in the trial, a father and son, sustained gunshot wounds and were also hospitalized, but their conditions were reported as stable.
Local media sources indicated that the trial revolved around a property dispute, and the assailant reportedly targeted the judge due to his anticipated unfavorable ruling. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama referred to the event as a “tragic incident” and emphasized the necessity for stricter penalties for gun-related offenses, stating that such crimes warrant severe legal repercussions.
The country’s president, Bajram Begaj, denounced the assault in a public statement, describing it as “a grave attack on the entire judicial system.” Under Albanian legislation, the illegal possession of firearms can lead to a maximum prison sentence of three years.
Statistics from the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) revealed a total of 213 firearm-related incidents in Albania between January and June 2025.