What happened during the recent confrontation between protesters and police in Albania?

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Police dispersed protesters with tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon, leaving 15 officers injured and 25 demonstrators detained

During the recent confrontation in Tirana, police used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who pushed through police lines and threw eggs, stones and other objects. Fifteen police officers were injured, and 25 demonstrators were detained, according to the police. An Albanian human rights watchdog said the police used tear gas without warning and used disproportionate force, including batons and punches against protesters who had been neutralised.
Police used force to break up attempts to push through lines
On Thursday morning, demonstrators gathered outside parliament for the second time that week to confront lawmakers and block entry to the building. Police then moved to break up the crowd, using tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon as people tried to push through officer lines and threw objects including eggs and stones. The clash involved hundreds of protesters.
Fifteen officers were injured and 25 demonstrators were detained
The police reported that 15 police officers were injured during the confrontation. They also reported that 25 demonstrators were detained. The violence was described as a contrast to the largely peaceful daily rallies that had drawn thousands since the movement began.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee urged an independent probe after escalation
The Albanian Helsinki Committee said it had concerns about the escalation at the protest. It argued that individual violence could not justify the disproportionate use of force by police, pointing to tear gas being used without warning and unnecessary force including batons and punches against neutralised protesters on the ground. The group called for a swift and independent investigation into police actions.
Protesters later chanted for detainees and faced further dispersal at a police station
On Saturday evening, demonstrators chanted “Free the boys” referring to 19 protesters still detained at a Tirana police station. After some protesters threw stones at the station and broke windows, police used water cannon shortly before midnight to disperse them. The demonstrations also included banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and “Revoke law on protected areas,” linked to legislation that allowed the project to be fast-tracked.

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What happened during the recent confrontation between protesters and police in Albania?

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