Protesters clash with police in Italy, Albania and Belgium nations on Oct 24
Separate protests in Italy, Albania and Belgium focused on war, living costs, alleged government corruption and education funding.
- On October 24, separate anti-government protests in Italy, Albania, and Belgium resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police.
- In Tirana, Albania, police used tear gas and water cannons on protesters demanding the prime minister's resignation over alleged corruption and poor education standards.
- Clashes occurred in the Italian cities of Turin, Rome, and Bologna during demonstrations against war and the rising cost of living.
- Police in Brussels, Belgium, deployed tear gas and pepper spray during a protest where demonstrators were demanding better funding and conditions for education.
Police and demonstrators clashed during separate anti-government protests in Italy, Albania and Belgium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, as rallies voiced grievances over war, rising living costs, alleged government corruption and education. The demonstrations came alongside continuing protests in France.
Albanian protesters demand Rama’s resignation
Albanian riot police used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets in Tirana on October 24 to disperse protesters demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Demonstrators had thrown stones at officers and set fire to the entrance of the Agriculture Ministry.
Student-led protests in Albania had spread through central Tirana and to other cities during October, driven by anger over alleged government corruption, a shortage of jobs and poor education standards.
Albanian protesters demanding Rama’s departure had also set fire to government buildings and banks, smashed shop windows and torn up paving stones to throw at police.
In Tirana, demonstrators gathered outside the Education Ministry at about 2pm local time on October 24 and hurled stones at police. Officers pushed the protesters back, after which groups dispersed to several locations around the city.
The unrest in Albania followed months of largely peaceful summer protests against a luxury coastal development backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump. Reuters described the latest unrest as the biggest challenge yet to Rama, who has governed since 2013 and won a fourth term in 2025.
“Albanians have woken up,” said Daniel Tahiri, a 28-year-old protester, who described Albania’s government as a “dictatorship with the clothes of democracy”.
Orgeta Likaj, a 29-year-old protester in Tirana, said demonstrators wanted Rama to understand that Albanians no longer wanted him in office because of corruption and scandals.
Clashes in three Italian cities while Milan stays largely peaceful
Police and demonstrators clashed in Turin, Rome and Bologna during Italian protests against war and rising living costs on October 24. Demonstrations in Milan were largely peaceful.
Italian authorities had strengthened security after calls for further protests circulated on social media during the week leading up to October 24. Large police deployments accompanied shop closures intended to protect businesses from damage. The precautions were designed to prevent a repeat of the nationwide unrest the previous weekend, which had included clashes, shop looting and property damage.
Reuters witnesses at Italy’s October 24 demonstrations did not see any shops being looted or property vandalised.
Italian police said they had detained one person earlier on October 24 over alleged links to organising the previous weekend’s “October 17 Movement” protests. The individual was taken to police headquarters in Milan for questioning.
Brussels police use tear gas at education protests
Belgian police used tear gas and pepper spray during clashes in Brussels on October 24 with demonstrators demanding better conditions and more funding for education, according to Reuters witnesses and Belgian media.
The Brussels protests drew hundreds of mainly young demonstrators as part of a series of rallies held over recent months. Protesters also accused police of using excessive force.
Reuters witnesses saw police pursuing demonstrators in Brussels on October 24, with some protesters falling to the ground. Officers were seen hitting and kicking one demonstrator.
Protesters in Brussels piled road signs and other objects onto rental scooters and bicycles and tried to set the pile alight. Belgian media also reported a separate incident in which police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
The October 24 clashes in Brussels were smaller and less violent than Belgium’s unrest the previous weekend. Demonstrations in neighbouring France were on a much larger scale.
Brussels police said in a statement late in the afternoon on October 24 that no “major incidents” had occurred and that measures had been taken to maintain public order and ensure everyone’s safety. The force reported temporarily detaining five people for disturbing public order and holding another four in connection with prohibited weapons and incitement to riot.
