Interior Minister Albana Koçiu has reacted to the serious incident of the murder of judge Astrit Kalaja, inside the premises of the Court of Appeal in Tirana.
Koçiu expresses condolences for the incident, and explains that the State Police is not responsible for controlling entry and exit within court buildings in the country.
The courts are guarded by private security companies, and it remains unclear how the perpetrator of the serious crime managed to enter the courtroom armed, bypassing both the security guard and the electronic scanner located at the main entrance.
Reaction of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Albana Koçiu:
Deeply shocked by the serious news of the murder of the judge of the Court of Appeal in Tirana, Astrit Kalaja, and the injury of two citizens, inside the courtroom.
I strongly condemn this barbaric act of violence and express my most sincere condolences to the victim's family and his colleagues, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
The State Police forces - which must be clarified to the public that, according to the law, they have no responsibility for controlling entry and exit and security within court buildings - immediately intervened at the scene.
The perpetrator was immediately detained and we have engaged the best experts to examine, in cooperation with prosecutors, the fulfillment of legal duties by the court security officers.