A violent conflict in the early hours of the morning in Saranda has ended with 6 people arrested and another wanted.

Among those arrested is the bar's administrator, while the Chief of Criminal Investigation of the Saranda Police Commissariat was also hit in the incident, as he intervened to stop the escalation of the conflict.
Two police officers have also been suspended from duty over the incident, and a disciplinary investigation has been launched against them.

Those arrested are Marjo Katiraj, administrator of the bar where the incident occurred, Elgent Ndoj, Ardit Kasemi, Faik Hoxha, Besnik Sullollari taxi driver, Indrit Cullhaj, while Pjetër Doçi was declared wanted.

The suspended officers are Armando Shehi, of the RES department, and Anton Binaku.

Saranda

The Head of Criminal Investigation of the Saranda Police Commissariat was shot in the line of duty, after he intervened to prevent the escalation of a conflict between security guards at a bar and several citizens. Six citizens were arrested, including the bar's administrator, and another person was declared wanted.

Meanwhile, the General Director of the State Police, Director Madhor Skender Hita, has immediately suspended from duty and ordered the Directorate of Professional Standards to launch a disciplinary investigation against two police officers for working two jobs without permission at the premises where the conflict occurred and for failing to intervene to prevent the escalation of the conflict.

On 16.08.2026, at around 03:20, on "Butrinti" Street, Saranda, in the outdoor areas of a bar, the bar's security guards were in conflict with several other people and had not notified the Police services.

During the conflict, the Chief of Criminal Investigation at the Saranda Police Station, Deputy Commissioner MB, was passing by in his vehicle and, upon noticing the conflict, stopped, introducing himself with the duties he held and trying to prevent the conflict from escalating.

The bar's security guards did not stop the physical conflict, but began punching the Chief of Investigation, who acted in self-defense and managed to communicate with the Police services to request help.

After about 1 minute, the services of the "Eagle" Special Forces and the National Security Forces came to the rescue, neutralizing the escalation of the conflict and escorting several people who were present in the conflict.

Police services continued their checks and, in a residence in the village of Gjashtë, Saranda, they located and escorted the rest of the guards of the premises where the physical conflict had occurred.

Following the actions carried out by Judicial Police Officers, in cooperation with the Saranda Prosecutor's Office, the following citizens were arrested:

MK, 35 years old, administrator of the premises where the conflict occurred;

EN, 38 years old; FH, 35 years old; I. Ç., 34 years old; and AK, 31 years old, military man in Zall-Herr, security guard at the bar where the conflict occurred, as well as BS, 29 years old, taxi driver.

Following the actions, a search warrant was issued for citizen PD, 28 years old, a security guard at the bar where the conflict occurred.

Also, in connection with the incident that occurred, by order of the General Director of the State Police, two Police officers were immediately suspended from duty, Inspector A. Sh., an officer of the "RESI" Department, and Deputy Commissioner AB, an officer of RENEA.

These employees, illegally employed at the premises where the conflict occurred, did not notify the Police of the conflict that was taking place and, despite being off duty, should have intervened to prevent the conflict from escalating.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Professional Standards in the State Police has sent a working group to Saranda, where it has launched a disciplinary investigation into two police officers, now suspended from duty.

Investigations are continuing by the Prosecutor's Office to hold all persons involved in this event legally accountable.