Albania: Defendant shot dead judge in court because he knew he would lose the case

Tirana [Albania], October 7, 2025: Albanian police said on October 6 (local time) that a defendant opened fire at a court in the capital on October 6, killing the judge and injuring two others.
AFP quoted information from Albanian police confirming that appeals court judge Astrit Kalaja was presiding over a trial in the capital on October 6 when the defendant suddenly opened fire, killing the judge . The suspect was arrested shortly afterwards.
"The judge was taken to the emergency room, but died on the way to the hospital due to severe injuries," according to a police statement.
The other participants in the trial, a father and son, were also shot and taken to the hospital. Their condition is now stable.
According to local media, the trial involved a real estate dispute and the man opened fire at the judge because he knew he would lose the case.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called the incident a tragedy and called for tougher penalties for gun crimes, saying similar incidents showed the need to bring the harshest possible punishment to the attackers.
President Bajram Begaj condemned the incident, calling it a terrible attack against the entire justice system.
Under Albanian law, illegal possession of a gun is punishable by up to three years in prison.
According to data from the Southeast and Eastern European Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Centre (SEESAC), there were 213 shooting incidents in Albania in the first six months of this year.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper