A man opened fire in a Tirana courtroom, killing Judge Astrit Kalaja and injuring two others. Photo / 123rf
A man opened fire in a Tirana courtroom, killing Judge Astrit Kalaja and injuring two others. Photo / 123rf
A man on trial opened fire in a courtroom in the Albanian capital Tirana, killing the judge and injuring two others, police said.
Appeals court Judge Astrit Kalaja was presiding over the man’s case on Monday when the man opened fire, police said, adding that the shooter was promptlyarrested.
“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 hospital but were stable.
According to local press reports, the case was over a property dispute and the man fired at the judge because he knew he was going to lose.
Illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by up to three years in prison under Albanian law.
According to data from the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), there were 213 firearm incidents in Albania between January and June 2025.
