Police in Albania fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters on Saturday, the fifth day of mass student protests demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama step down.
Reuters video footage showed police firing a shotgun towards crowds outside the education ministry during clashes with protesters. Reuters reporters found rubber pellets on the ground and pellets hit two Reuters journalists and several protesters, leaving round marks.
The incident marks an escalation in a confrontation between police and protesters that has engulfed central Tirana in recent days. Protesters have burned government buildings and banks and hurled rocks at police, who have responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Albania’s police chief Skender Hita did not deny the use of rubber bullets when asked about it at a news conference on Saturday.
“All means that were used were employed in a limited manner, including the most recent ones,” he said.