Police attacked in operation to demolish illegal buildings

TIRANA, July 5 – The demolition of some illegal buildings in the coastal village of Hamallaj, Durres, caused a real uprising of local inhabitants against police assisting an operation of the National Construction Inspectorate to demolish some illegal buildings.
Three policemen were injured while and group of 250 local inhabitants forcefully opposed the demolitions throwing stones and even bottles of fuel at them.
The Inspectorate’s operation has been temporarily suspended while an investigation is being carried out into the incident.
Seven protesters were immediately arrested and a dozen others questioned over the attack on police forces.
The Inspectorate said the operation was aimed at demolishing illegal constructions made during the past three years to prevent another urban massacre in one of the few remaining virgin coastal areas in Durres, the country’s biggest tourist destination.
Gjergj Bojaxhi, the Inspectorate’s director, said the operation will resume as soon as the situation get quieter.
“We won’t withdraw from out plan of demolishing all illegal buildings lying across the coastal village of Hamallaj,” said Bojaxhi.
Several bars, restaurants and hotels and even houses have been built along the Hamallaj coastline without permission.
Local government officials said the operation was aimed at demolishing only illegal bars and restaurants and not houses which are under the legalization process.