Police failed on January 21st
06/02/2012 00:00
Linda Rama: Between Family, Work and Albania’s Future 18/08 14:30
The Internal Inspection Service for the Interior Ministry has
investigated the activity of the police during the January 21st protests
by discovering shocking facts, which show that the state police have
been incapable to manage a situation like that of January 21st.
What will serve to the further investigations of the tragic event that ended with four dead protesters, was the request made by the former Police Director to the National Guard Commander to stop firing live bullets.
According to the investigation, his order one day before the protest was that none of the policemen were allowed to fire bullets, in any circumstance, including the National Guard. In some Police radios requests are heard for using a helicopter to throw more tear gas from the air.
The investigation concludes that the police was tired after staying in line for several hours before the protest turned violent, and that the tear gas mostly damaged the police agents than the protesters, since the wind direction was not calculated. The report notes further problems, in the way how the operation for defending the government building was organized and implemented.
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