Albanian police reported that a shooting occurred in the Tirana Appellate Court on Monday, killing Judge Astrit Kalaja.
An appellate court judge was shot and killed in Tirana: suspect detained
According to investigators, the shots were fired by a 30-year-old man with the initials E.Sh., who was attending the hearing.
After the attack, the shooter fled the scene but was soon apprehended by police. A search of his person revealed the revolver allegedly used in the crime.
Incident Details
Police clarified that Kalaja was fatally wounded in the courtroom and died en route to the hospital.
Additionally, the gunman wounded two other people who were also present at the hearing, but their lives are not believed to be in danger.
Law enforcement agencies have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the attack or details of the case being heard. According to court records, the hearing was related to a real estate dispute.
Pressure on the judicial system
The incident occurred amid ongoing problems in Albania’s judicial system.
Following large-scale reforms initiated in 2016 with the support of the European Union and the United States, many trials were suspended, and tens of thousands of cases were postponed for years.
Albanian authorities stated that the investigation into the Tirana incident is under the personal supervision of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prosecutor’s Office.
Victims in Manchester Synagogue Attack Likely Killed by Police Gunfire
British authorities said that the two Jewish worshippers who died during the attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester were likely struck by bullets fired by armed officers attempting to stop the assailant.
Preliminary findings indicate that the victims were standing near the synagogue entrance, trying to block the attacker from entering when they were fatally wounded.
