Hundreds of police, special forces, rapid intervention units, and private security guards have surrounded the National Theatre in Tirana, forcibly removing citizens and journalists from the vicinity.
They used aggressive tactics to force reporters and cameras to retreat out of the yard of the theatre, which is on public land, where they have been reporting since this morning.
The authorities descended on the theatre site early this morning where activists had been peacefully assembled over night. A number of citizens were injured after private security guards and police used violence against them, one man was hospitalised with serious injuries after falling backwards into an empty swimming pool after an altercation with the police.
Activists which include individuals working for the theatre, entered the property via a side door at around midday. They, along with journalists and other protestors have been occupying the building since.
Special Forces are reported to be attempting to enter the theatre to forcibly remove those within.
As they are playwrights, directors, authors, actors and other individuals employed within the theatre, they have every right to be there. Furthermore, the theatre is on public land not private property and they have no legal right to remove the media or citizens from the vicinity.
