Protests spread across Europe as demonstrators clash with police, set fires

Key Points:

• Protests and unrest spreading from France have expanded to several European countries, including Albania, Belgium, Italy, and Spain, with demands ranging from education reform to pension system changes.
• In Albania, thousands protested outside the Ministry of Education, demanding lower tuition fees and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, leading to clashes with police using water cannons in Tirana.
• Belgium saw police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters in Brussels, with heightened security measures as luxury shops boarded up to prevent looting.
• Italy experienced violent protests in major cities such as Rome, Milan, Turin, and Florence, prompting the deployment of soldiers and police tear gas, with the US Embassy issuing warnings to Americans in affected areas.
• In Spain, over 25,000 people protested in Madrid for pension reform, while violent incidents occurred in Barcelona, and jihadist threats have raised concerns about potential attacks on demonstrators and police in Spain and Portugal.