Khaberni - The Albanian capital of Tirana witnessed a horrific murder that caused widespread shock, after a man opened fire on a judge during an appeal session and killed him in front of the attendees inside the courtroom.
The British newspaper "Metro" reported, quoting local media, that Judge Astrit Kalaja was presiding over a property dispute session, when one of the parties unexpectedly opened fire on him.
The judge was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Reports indicated that the shooter, named Elvis Shkembi, was arrested by the police immediately after the incident, noting in an official statement that the suspect is referred to by his initials "E. Sh."
The attack also resulted in the injury of a man and his son, who were parties in the same case, and they were transported to the hospital, where their condition was described as stable.
First Official Comment
In the first official remark, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the tragic incident, emphasizing the need to strengthen penalties for crimes related to the possession of firearms.
Rama stated that "the criminal assault on the judge undoubtedly requires the strictest legal response towards the attacker," mentioning that what happened "constitutes a dagger in the heart of justice and undermines the prestige of the judicial system in the country."
It is worth noting that the late Judge Kalaja was one of the most prominent judges in Albania, having spent approximately three decades in the judiciary, and he has been a member of the Court of Appeals in Tirana since 2019.
