Defendant Kills Judge During Hearing in Albania: What We Know About the Attack.

Terrifying Incident in a Courtroom in Albania

According to The Sun: A horrific event occurred in one of Albania's courts: during a property case hearing, the defendant opened fire, killing the judge and injuring two others.

Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaj sustained a fatal injury in the courtroom in Tirana from a 30-year-old defendant identified by police as E. Sh.

The judge was urgently hospitalized, but “he died en route to the hospital,” police reported.

As a result of the attack, a father and son were also injured, but their condition is stable.

According to local sources, the shooter opened fire believing he was losing the case.

Police apprehended the assailant at the scene and seized a revolver used in the attack.

Furthermore, the media reports that the suspect's uncle and a court security guard have been detained as part of the investigation.

Videos from the scene show chaos following the attack on the appeals court.

Footage shows police vehicles arriving, law enforcement chasing the assailant, while the crowd scatters in different directions.

Astrit Kalaj, a respected lawyer with over 30 years of experience, had been working in the Appeals Court of Tirana since 2019.

This attack has rekindled discussions regarding Albania's gun legislation.

It is worth noting that possession of illegal firearms is punishable by a maximum of three years in prison.

Authorities' Response to the Tragedy

In the first half of 2025, there were 213 cases of gunfire in the country, according to SEESAC.

Prime Minister Edi Rama called this incident a “tragic event” and urged for stricter accountability regarding gun crimes.

“Criminal aggression against a judge undoubtedly requires the most severe legal reaction against the aggressor,” he stated, also calling for improved security in courts.

President of Albania Bajram Begaj described it as a “horrific attack on the entire justice system!”

Opposition leader Sali Berisha noted that this was the first time in 35 years that a judge was killed “while performing his duties.”

Attorney General Olcian Cela remarked that the shooting “undermines the very foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system” and promised to review security measures for judges.

This incident occurred against the backdrop of extensive judicial reforms in Albania, which began in 2016 with the support of the U.S. and EU.

However, the system still faces serious issues, such as tensions in property cases and years-long delays in reviewing thousands of cases.

The murder of a judge in the courtroom has raised deep concerns regarding the security of Albania's legal system and the tense atmosphere that still affects some judicial processes in the country.

Stay tuned for further updates on this situation on our website.

This tragedy once again underscores the importance of security in the legal system of Albania and the necessity for serious reforms in the protection of justice. The events are drawing attention from both local and international observers who hope for rapid changes in the situation.

Government reactions indicate an understanding of the seriousness of the issue, but whether this protection will be sufficient to prevent similar incidents in the future is a question that requires urgent consideration.