A group of migrants transferred from Italy to a detention center in Albania staged a violent outburst shortly after arriving, Italian media reported Sunday. The 40 men—all denied asylum and facing deportation—were taken to the Gjader facility on April 13. Things quickly spiraled when around half of them began wrecking the center.
According to reports, roughly 20 of the migrants tore up mattresses, smashed windows, and destroyed furniture shortly after disembarking. In a disturbing twist, three also inflicted injuries on themselves, requiring immediate medical attention from staff on site.
One man, whose deportation order was later rescinded, has reportedly been returned to Italy.
Italian outlet Il Tempo, citing Rete 4, highlighted that the group’s arrival sparked fresh debate over the government’s handling of failed asylum seekers. Left-wing politicians criticized the use of plastic handcuffs during the sea transfer, arguing the measures were dehumanizing.
But Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi pushed back, pointing out that these were not “ordinary” migrants. According to Piantedosi, the men in question are either accused or convicted of serious offenses—ranging from attempted murder and sexual assault to drug trafficking, child exploitation, and violent robbery.
Government sources defended the use of restraints, emphasizing they were necessary for police protection during transport.
As tensions around immigration enforcement continue to boil over, this latest episode is likely to stoke further controversy on both sides of the political aisle.
