Gunman Arrested After Judge Shot Dead Inside Albanian Courtroom

A gunman has been arrested in Tirana, Albania, after fatally shooting a judge during a court hearing in what authorities described as a shocking attack inside the Court of Appeals.

The victim, Judge Astrit Kalaja, was presiding over a case when a 30-year-old man — identified only by police as E. Sh. — opened fire inside the courtroom on Monday.

Police confirmed that Judge Kalaja died while being taken to hospital. Two other individuals involved in the trial were also shot but are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The assailant fled the courthouse after the attack but was later captured by police, who also recovered the alleged revolver used in the shooting.

Authorities have yet to disclose the motive behind the attack or details about the case being heard. According to information available on the court’s website, the hearing was related to a property dispute.

The rare act of violence has sent shockwaves through Albania’s judicial system, which has undergone sweeping reforms since 2016 under European Union and US-backed initiatives aimed at tackling corruption and restoring public trust.

Security has since been tightened at courts across Tirana as investigators work to determine how the gunman managed to bring a firearm into the courtroom.

The Albanian Ministry of Justice condemned the killing as “an attack on the rule of law” and called for swift justice against the perpetrator.