Tirana (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A shocking courtroom shooting in the Albanian capital, Tirana, left Judge Astrit Kalaja dead and two others injured on Monday, after a defendant opened fire during a hearing. The attacker, a 30-year-old man identified by police as Elvis Shkëmbi fled the scene but was later arrested. A revolver believed to have been used in the attack was recovered by police.
Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive, though court records show the case involved a property dispute. The two other victims sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, according to hospital officials.
The killing has shocked Albania and drawn widespread condemnation from the country’s leadership. Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed deep sorrow over what he described as a “criminal aggression,” offering condolences to Judge Kalaja’s family and calling the incident a tragedy that demands a strong institutional response. Rama said the state must deliver an “extreme legal reaction” against the perpetrator and use the tragedy as a moment to reflect on the need for stricter control of weapons and tighter security in the nation’s courts. He warned that tolerance for individuals carrying weapons into judicial buildings must end once and for all.
Justice Minister Besfort Lamallari described the killing as an attack on every justice institution in the country, vowing that such acts would never intimidate the Albanian judiciary. He said the crime must be punished with the full force of the law and announced a review of security procedures in court facilities. Lamallari also emphasized the need to strengthen penalties for illegal weapons possession under the country’s criminal code, saying the ministry would work with law enforcement to ensure that similar breaches could not happen again.
Interior Minister Albana Koçiu said she was deeply shaken by the tragedy and conveyed condolences to the judge’s family and the wounded victims. She clarified that state police are not responsible for internal court security, which is handled by private security firms, but confirmed that her ministry had launched an investigation into how the gunman managed to bring a weapon into the courtroom. Koçiu said ministry experts were working alongside prosecutors to determine the chain of failures that allowed the attack to occur.
The shooting has reignited debate over Albania’s struggling justice system, which has been under significant pressure since the launch of sweeping reforms in 2016 backed by the European Union and the United States. The overhaul aimed to root out corruption and rebuild public trust but has also resulted in years-long delays and a backlog of tens of thousands of cases. Legal associations and members of the High Judicial Council condemned the attack as a direct assault on judicial independence, urging the government to take immediate steps to improve safety for judges, prosecutors, and court staff across the country.
Authorities have not provided further details about the suspect or the case he faced, but police said the investigation is ongoing. Forensic teams are examining the weapon and gathering evidence from the courtroom as the country mourns the loss of one of its senior judges in what officials have called one of the darkest days for Albania’s justice system in recent years.
