Riots in Tirana enter a fifth day as Albania's anti-government protests escalate

Tensions are rising between young Albanians and police on the streets of Tirana. For the fifth consecutive day, demonstrations broke out across the capital. Protesters hurled projectiles at police who responded with rubber bullets, a first since the start of the movement. Both protesters and officers have been injured, while several fires have broken out across the city. The young protesters are calling for better living conditions and, above all, the resignation of Prime Minister Eddie Rama. Now, not only is he not listening, but he is throwing gas unlimitedly to us. This is not normal. I don't know how the protests are, but these cops don't even want to talk to us or anything. They're just throwing gas at some amount that I've never seen before in any protest. Earlier today, police turned water cannons on the demonstrators as the Prime Minister declared that he respects the students. I'm just here in support of all these students and people, and the Gen Z. They are rightful requests to have a good education, to have more opportunities in this country that is giving them nothing. Youth-led demonstrations were also reported elsewhere across Europe on Saturday. In Italy, rallies took place in Bologna and Milan, where conditions turned violent as demonstrators protested against inflation and the decline in public services. Police charged as protesters hurled projectiles. In front of Duomo, a man was pinned to the ground, while others threw trash cans at officers. In Brussels, the atmosphere was calmer, though tensions still remained as the headquarters of the Socialist Party Federation was vandalised. Belgian secondary school students had been protesting for several days against rising university tuition fees.