A COURTROOM turned into a scene of terror when a man on trial opened fire, killing the presiding judge and injuring two others during a heated property dispute hearing.
Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja was shot inside his own courtroom in Tirana, Albania, by a 30-year-old defendant identified by police as E. Sh.
GettyPolice officers deployed to the scene after a judge was killed in an armed attack at the Court of Appeals in Tirana, Albania[/caption]
AFPPolice secure the perimeter outside Tirana Appeal Court on Monday[/caption]
The judge was rushed to hospital after the horror Monday attack but “succumbed to his injuries on the way,” police confirmed.
The other side in the dispute — a father and son — were also hit and remain in hospital but are stable, officials said.
Local reports suggest the gunman opened fire because he believed he was about to lose the case.
Police arrested the shooter at the scene and seized the revolver used in the attack.
Kalaja, a respected jurist with over 30 years in the legal field, had served on Tirana’s Court of Appeal since 2019.
The attack has reignited debate over Albania’s gun laws.
Prime Minister Edi Rama branded the killing a “tragic event,” demanding harsher sentencing for gun crimes.
“The criminal aggression against the judge undoubtedly requires the most extreme legal response toward the aggressor,” he said, while also calling for stricter court security.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj called it “a terrible attack against the entire justice system!”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Sali Berisha said it was the first time in 35 years a judge had been killed “while doing his duty.”
He added: “Today is the day for a deep reflection by all Albanian society.”
General prosecutor Olsian Çela said the shooting “strikes at the very foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system” and vowed to review security measures for judges.
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