Four Albanian cops killed during fugitive’s arrest

TIRANA - Four police officers were killed during a midday shootout in an Albanian holiday resort on Friday, in which the country’s most wanted fugitive was finally arrested after six years on the run, police said.

Special operations police surrounded the car of convicted murderer Dritan Dajti when it stopped in the seaside town of Durres, a police statement said.

"The most wanted man Dritan Dajti immediately opened fire on the police officers, leaving four of them dead. He was also heavily wounded," the statement said.

One of Dajti’s two accomplices was also killed and Dajti was taken to the capital Tirana for medical treatment.

It was the highest number of policemen killed in a single day since 1997 when Albania fell into anarchy in the post-Communist period.

Dajti, 37, escaped from custody while being escorted to Tirana’s district court six years ago and was sentenced in absentia to 20 years for killing a businessmen.

A witnesses described Friday’s scene as "a real battle" that traumatised holidaymakers. Six people, including bystanders, were wounded.(The Vancouver Sun)