A group of Albanian high school students from the coastal city of Durrës spent the night at a police station in Montenegro after making the double-headed eagle gesture, Albania's national symbol, during a school trip to the historic city of Kotor.

The students, who were visiting Montenegro on an educational excursion, were taken to a police station following a complaint filed by a local woman who allegedly claimed she had been threatened by them. They were released at around 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, and allowed to continue their trip.

The incident began on Saturday afternoon, when second-year students from Naim Frashëri High School in Durrës arrived in Kotor. After checking into their hotel, the teenagers went out to explore the city.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., three of the students encountered a woman estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old. She reportedly asked them where they were from. After identifying themselves as Albanians, the students made the double-headed eagle gesture with their hands.

According to reports, the woman interpreted the gesture as a provocation and allegedly slapped one of the students two or three times.

The teenagers initially walked away, believing the incident was over. However, later, as they gathered with their classmates to board their bus, local police stopped the vehicle and escorted three students to the police station on suspicion of inciting national hatred.

The woman had reportedly filed a complaint alleging that the students had threatened her.

The teacher accompanying the school group went to the police station with the teenagers, where they provided statements about the incident.

Their detention lasted throughout the night. At approximately 8 a.m. on November 1, the students were released with a verbal warning and subsequently resumed their scheduled educational trip in Montenegro.

The incident has raised concerns over the treatment of Albanian students during what was supposed to be a routine school excursion abroad.