A man on trial opened fire in a courtroom in the Albanian capital, Tirana, on Monday, October 6, killing the judge and injuring two others, police said.
Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja was presiding over the man’s case when the defendant suddenly drew a gun and opened fire. Police said the shooter was promptly arrested at the scene before he could flee.
“The judge was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the way,” a police statement said. The other party to the trial, a father and son, were also shot and taken to the hospital, but were reported to be in stable condition.
According to local press reports, the case was linked to a long-running property dispute. Witnesses said the shooter appeared agitated throughout the hearing and allegedly opened fire when he realised that the judgment was likely to go against him.
The courtroom immediately descended into chaos as people scrambled for safety, with law enforcement officers rushing in to subdue the gunman. Emergency services arrived minutes later, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine how the assailant managed to bring a firearm into the courtroom, which is supposed to be a secure facility. Police said the motive appeared to be personal and connected to the property case before the court.
The shocking incident has sparked widespread outrage in Albania, with legal and political figures calling for tighter security in court premises across the country. The Albanian Justice Ministry said in a brief statement that it “strongly condemns the heinous attack” and expressed condolences to the family of Judge Kalaja, describing his death as “a tragic loss to the nation’s judicial system.”
Local media outlets have reported that the suspect, who has not yet been publicly identified, was a party to the civil dispute and had been facing multiple legal challenges related to property ownership. The Albanian Bar Association has also called for an urgent review of courtroom safety procedures to prevent similar attacks in the future.
