Twenty-three people have been taken in for further procedural action following violent clashes between protesters and police outside Albania’s Ministry of Education, according to the State Police.

In a statement, police said the demonstration resulted in damage to the ministry’s perimeter fencing, entrance gate and building facade. Six police officers and one female journalist were also injured during the confrontations. All seven are reported to be out of life-threatening danger.

According to the police account, a group of demonstrators damaged the ministry’s outer fencing before attempting to enter the courtyard by forcing the entrance gate. Protesters subsequently broke windows and damaged the building’s facade using paving stones and other hard objects, the statement said.

Police said officers repeatedly called on those involved to stop the attack and leave the ministry’s courtyard. However, according to the authorities, the protesters did not comply with the repeated instructions.

The statement further alleges that officers were attacked with Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, stones and other hard objects as the clashes intensified.

The developments mark a further escalation in the student protest, which has disrupted traffic in central Tirana and left damage to public property.

The police account represents the authorities’ version of events. Further details about the 23 people taken in for questioning or other procedural action, as well as the circumstances surrounding the injuries, were not provided in the information released.