DID Press: A defendant shot and killed a judge during an appeal court hearing in Albania’s capital, Tirana, in a rare act of violence inside a courtroom. Two other people were wounded. Police arrested the gunman.
Local media reported that the shooting occurred during an appeal session when the defendant, fearing conviction, opened fire on Judge Astrit Kalaja, who died on the way to hospital.
Authorities said two other people — a father and son attending a separate civil case — were also shot and were injured.
Police identified the suspect as 30-year-old Elvis Shkembi, who was taken into custody at the scene. An investigation is underway.
Following the incident, Albania’s prosecutor general urged the government to immediately strengthen security measures for judges and court buildings.
Shootings targeting judges are rare in Europe, though similar incidents have occurred in the past, including the killing of a judge in a Milan courtroom last decade.