Tens of thousands of students set Albania's education ministry ablaze as protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama turn violent

Tens of thousands of students stormed central Tirana on Wednesday, torching Albania's education ministry and two bank branches, hurling paving stones and petrol bombs at riot police who responded with water cannon and tear gas. The uprising marks the most violent outburst yet against Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has faced months of growing discontent over corruption, soaring university costs and poor graduate employment prospects.

Sixteen people were arrested after overnight violence; six police officers, eight protesters, three journalists and two bystanders needed medical attention.

Protesters also burst into the municipality building and set it alight, overturning bins and smashing shop fronts along a central street near the ministry.

'This is a revolution — we will not stop until Rama resigns,' said one student, as crowds chanted 'police of crime' and rejected opposition figures as equally unpalatable.