Tirana, October 6, 2025 — A shocking courtroom tragedy has rocked Albania after a gunman opened fire during a hearing in the southern city of Vlora, killing a sitting judge and injuring two others before being overpowered and arrested by police. The attack has sent shockwaves through the country’s legal and political institutions, raising urgent questions about security in public buildings and the safety of judicial officials.
According to authorities, the shooting occurred just before noon inside the Vlora District Court, where the suspect — identified by local media as 47-year-old businessman Arben Qato — allegedly smuggled a handgun past security before confronting Judge Sokol Mema during an ongoing civil case. Witnesses said the attacker shouted angrily before firing multiple rounds at close range, fatally striking the judge and wounding a court clerk and a police officer.
Police units responded within minutes, arresting the suspect at the scene. Video footage circulating on Albanian social media showed officers escorting a handcuffed man out of the courthouse as panicked civilians fled the area. Emergency medical teams rushed the victims to Vlora Regional Hospital, where Judge Mema was pronounced dead on arrival.
Interior Minister Taulant Balla condemned the attack as a “heinous and cowardly assault on justice,” vowing that the government would conduct a full investigation. “This act of violence is an attack on the rule of law and the entire Albanian judiciary,” Balla said in a televised statement. “The perpetrator will face the full force of the law.”
Prime Minister Edi Rama also expressed his condolences, calling the killing “a national tragedy” and pledging to tighten security protocols in all judicial buildings across the country. “No judge or public servant should fear for their life while performing their duty,” Rama said. “This barbaric act will not intimidate our institutions.”
Investigators believe the attack may have been motivated by a legal dispute involving a commercial property in Vlora. Sources close to the case said the suspect had previously lost a lawsuit overseen by Judge Mema and was facing heavy financial penalties. “It appears to be a case of personal revenge,” a senior police official said. “The suspect had a history of confrontations with the court.”
The Albanian High Judicial Council announced an emergency meeting to discuss new security measures, including enhanced screening at court entrances and increased police presence during high-risk trials. Legal associations and rights groups across the Balkans have expressed solidarity, warning that the incident highlights the growing threats faced by members of the judiciary.
Outside the courthouse, dozens of lawyers, judges, and citizens gathered to lay flowers and light candles in memory of Judge Mema, a respected legal expert with over 20 years of service. “He was a man of integrity, a fair and principled judge,” said colleague Elira Kodra. “His death is a devastating loss for our justice system.”
The suspect remains in custody at a high-security detention center in Tirana as prosecutors prepare murder and terrorism-related charges. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional accomplices or lapses in courthouse security that allowed the weapon to be brought inside.
The tragedy has reignited debate in Albania over public trust in the judiciary, which has been undergoing an extensive reform process aimed at tackling corruption and improving transparency. Analysts warn that such violent incidents could undermine recent progress in restoring confidence in the justice system.
As the investigation continues, the country mourns a fallen judge and confronts the painful reminder that violence can strike even at the heart of its democratic institutions. The Albanian government has declared a national day of mourning in honor of Judge Mema, whose death now symbolizes both the fragility and the courage of justice in the face of brutality.
