Gjirokastër bomb attack kills driver in moving vehicle

Gjirokastër bombing Beqir Devolli Erigels Mela tritol explosion Albania crime

A fatal bomb attack occurred in the center of Gjirokastër, Albania, when a Mercedes-Benz vehicle exploded while in motion on 18 Shtatori Boulevard. The explosion, suspected to have been triggered by approximately 300 grams of tritol via remote control, resulted in the death of 45-year-old driver Beqir Devolli. Devolli died in an ambulance while being transported to the Trauma Hospital in Tirana.

The passenger, 26-year-old Erigels Mela, was injured in the blast but is reported to be in stable condition and out of life-threatening danger. Investigators believe the attackers may have followed the vehicle for roughly three kilometers from the Viroi area before detonating the device near the local police directorate.

Police are currently reviewing security footage from a nearby bank to identify the perpetrators and reconstruct the dynamics of the attack. Investigators are also looking into whether the incident is linked to a previous event in April 2025, when Mela’s vehicle was also involved in a fire.

Entities

Albanian Police · Beqir Devolli · Erigels Mela · Gjirokastër · Rigels Mela

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The explosive is suspected to have been detonated remotely via remote control. ntv.al · publik.al · www.topalbaniaradio.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The explosion occurred on 18 Shtatori Boulevard in the center of Gjirokastër. fjala.al · ntv.al · www.topalbaniaradio.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Passenger Erigels Mela, 26, was injured but is reported to be out of life-threatening danger. www.gazetakosova.net · www.topalbaniaradio.com · 24-ore.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The explosion involved approximately 300 grams of tritol explosive. ntv.al · publik.al · www.topalbaniaradio.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The attackers allegedly followed the vehicle for approximately three kilometers from the Viroi area. ntv.al · publik.al · www.topalbaniaradio.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Beqir Devolli, 45, died in an ambulance while being transported to the Trauma Hospital in Tirana. www.gazetakosova.net · www.topalbaniaradio.com · 24-ore.com