Two Murders in Central Tirana Raise Fear Among Residents

Two people were murdered in the last three days in densely populated areas of central Tirana, causing panic and insecurity among citizens.

Last night, Jurgen Kurti, 26, was murdered while walking home, in one of the cities most populated areas close to the Selman Stermasi Stadium. In 2016, Kurti was charged for stabbing to death his own father during a family dispute, but was later released as his uncle claimed to have committed the murder. In 2017, Kurti was accused of being part of a group beating to death a local shop-owner in Durres. He was again released after one of his friends took responsibility for the murder claiming Kurti was not present during the beating.

Three days earlier, a 62 year person was murdered by two people that fired at him while he was jogging with his son at the Lake Park. The area was full of people taking an evening stroll at the time of the crime, and more than 20 persons were called as eyewitnesses. The son of the victim identified one the killers, but the police have not been able to arrest him.

Just a few months ago, one person was killed and two others were injured in the Bllok area in central Tirana.

Such unusual killings have generated a climate of fear particularly among people frequenting Tirana’s nightclubs.