TIRANA, March 27 – At least 27 shots were fired at the exterior facade of the Top-Channel building on Sunday night by still unidentified persons. The barrage of bullets first penetrated the railings of the outside fence of the television, killing the security guard, Pal Kola.
The police said that the perpetrators approached in a Range Rover type car and two of them shot in the direction of the television building.
Referring to the footage of the security cameras, the perpetrators have moved from the secondary road in the direction of Mzezez to the Top-Channel building. After passing the building, they returned again after about 50 meters and open fire. The perpetrators then left quickly and burned the car near the Shkembi i Kavajes.
The Police and the Prosecutor’s Office do not yet have a concrete track for the unprecedented attack, while they have seized numerous footage of the television building and some other businesses in order to identify the persons who committed this act.
The police gave no motive for the attack, saying “the investigation is ongoing”. But they said the attackers used a Kalashnikov rifle.
Top Channel television reacted by calling it a terrorist attack, which clearly shows how important free speech is and how worrying it is for those who undermine democracy.
In the meantime it is announced by the police that two people have been detained by the police as suspected perpetrators and who may be related to the gun attack on the television building. It is claimed that these people are originally from Shkodra and were caught in Vlora, southern Albania.
The bloody event is widely condemned in Albania by the highest state and government leaders as well as the political forces of the majority and opposition. Also, international organizations have expressed their dismay over the attack considering it as a blow on free media and journalists.
Albania’s President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama offered condolences to the victim’s family and the staff at Top Channel, and called for “everyone’s solidarity at this very worrying moment”.
The US embassy in Tirana also condemned the shooting. “We urge law enforcement to carry out a comprehensive investigation that will bring perpetrators to justice,” the embassy said on Monday. /Argumentum.al
