A guard post of Albania's Education Ministry caught fire on Wednesday (October 14) during a second day of student protests over corruption and education, as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in Tirana.

Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Education Ministry on Wednesday (October 14). Some threw projectiles at the building and towards police. Other protesters broke metal sidewalk barriers and overturned trash cans. A Raiffeisen Bank branch nearby caught fire as well.

This has been the most violent outburst of anti-corruption protests, which started in May and have posed a growing challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama's government.

"Protesting is a legitimate right, but it cannot be used as an excuse for violence, city destruction or ugly fighting in the middle of the road," Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu said on Facebook.

Student organisers said the protest was over conditions at universities, higher education costs, financial support and lack of employment prospects after graduation.

The unrest is part of a broader wave of student activism sweeping Europe over education and living conditions. In France, high school students have staged weeks of protests and school blockades demanding more teachers and better facilities, arguing that deteriorating school buildings and overcrowded classrooms are undermining education.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TIRANA, ALBANIA (OCTOBER 14, 2026) (REUTERS-Access all)

1. SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT YARD OF EDUCATION MINISTRY / PROTESTER WAVING ALBANIAN FLAG

2. GUARD BOOTH ON FIRE BEHIND FENCE OF EDUCATION MINISTRY BUILDING

3. SMOKE COMING FROM EDUCATION MINISTRY PREMISES

4. PROTESTERS HURLING STONES AT POLICE / POLICE USING WATER CANNON ON PROTESTERS

5. PROTESTERS THROWING FIRE CRACKERS THROUGH GATE OF EDUCATION MINISTRY BUILDING

6. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HURLING STONES AT POLICE / POLICE USING WATER CANNON ON PROTESTERS

7. SMOKE COMING FROM EDUCATION MINISTRY, GROUP OF POLICE IN RIOT GEAR ADVANCING ON PROTESTERS

8. SMOKE COMING FROM EDUCATION MINISTRY, POLICE ON STREET

9. BUILDING ON FIRE (NOT EDUCATION MINISTRY), PROTESTERS JEERING, THROWING ROCKS

10. BUILDING ON FIRE

11. THICK BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM STORE FRONT THROUGH BROKEN WINDOW

12. PROTESTERS BEING BLASTED WITH WATER, RAINBOW FORMING, PROTESTERS THROWING PROJECTILES

13. SMOKE GRENADE AND METAL DEBRIS ON STREET

14. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS RUNNING TOWARDS POLICE WITH STREET SIGN AND METAL FENCE, THROWING PROJECTILES

15. WATER CANNON, FIRE CRACKERS GOING OFF

16. PROTESTER ON TOP OF WALL OF EDUCATION MINISTRY