Albania scores after 23 seconds for quickest ever goal at the European Championship

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Albania has scored the fastest ever goal at a European Championship — after just 23 seconds.

Nedim Bajrami pounced on an errant throw-in by Italy left back Federico Dimarco, took a touch, then smashed a rising shot inside the near post in Dortmund on Saturday.

The previous quickest goal in the competition was by Dmitri Kirichenko of Russia after 67 seconds against Greece in 2004.

Bajrami became just the second Albanian to score at a European Championship, after Armando Sadiku in 2016. That was the western Balkan country's only other appearance at a major tournament.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Albania's Nedim Bajrami, left, scores his side's opening goal in front of Italy's Alessandro Bastoni during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Albania's Nedim Bajrami celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Albania's Nedim Bajrami celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Albania's Nedim Bajrami, left, scores his side's opening goal in front of Italy's Alessandro Bastoni during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Albania's Nedim Bajrami, back, scores his side's opening goal during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Albania team pose for a group photo prior to a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Albania's Nedim Bajrami celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

DALLAS (AP) — Nearly 80 criminal trespass arrests stemming from a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas have been dismissed, a prosecutor said Wednesday, the latest dropped charges against demonstrators arrested on college campuses across the U.S. this spring.

Delia Garza, a Democrat who is the elected attorney for Travis County, said 79 criminal trespass cases that were dismissed all stemmed from the April 29 protest. She said cases involving other offenses remain pending.

Garza said her office determined it couldn't meet the legal burden to prove the cases beyond a reasonable doubt. She said factors that were considered included whether the protesters' right to free speech had been violated, whether prosecutors had sufficient evidence to seek a conviction and if pursuing the case was in the interest of justice.

At campuses across the U.S. this spring, demonstrators sparred over the Israel-Hamas war. Texas' protest and others grew out of Columbia University’s early demonstrations.

Last week, prosecutors in New York announced that dozens of Columbia students who were arrested for occupying a campus building as part of a pro-Palestinian protest would have their criminal charges dropped. The Manhattan district attorney’s office said it would not pursue criminal charges for 31 of the 46 people initially arrested on trespassing charges inside the administration building.

On April 29 at UT, officers in riot gear encircled about 100 sitting protesters, dragging or carrying them out one by one amid screams. Another group of demonstrators trapped police and a van full of arrestees between buildings, creating a mass of bodies pushing and shoving. Officers used pepper spray and flash-bang devices to clear the crowd.

The university said in a statement at the time that many of the protesters weren’t affiliated with the school and that encampments were prohibited on the campus in the state capital. The school also alleged that some demonstrators were “physically and verbally combative” with university staff, prompting officials to call law enforcement. The Texas Department of Public Safety said arrests were made at the behest of the university and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Garza said she wished that state and university leadership had looked for "another solution to allow these students to voice what they felt like they needed to voice.” She said the reaction to the protests showed that elected leaders “continue to prioritize extreme government outreach over actual public safety.”

In a statement, UT said the school was “deeply disappointed” by Garza’s actions, adding that the school “will continue to use the law enforcement and administrative tools at our disposal to maintain safety and operational continuity for our 53,000 students who come to campus to learn, regardless of whether the criminal justice system shares this commitment.”

“Free speech is welcome on our campus. Violating laws or rules is not," the statement said. “Actions that violate laws and Institutional Rules should be met with consequences, not with political posturing and press conferences.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters block police vehicles from leaving the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, April 29, 2024. Nearly 80 criminal trespass cases filed after the campus protest have been dismissed as a prosecutor said Wednesday, June 26, 2024 that the reaction to protests showed that elected leaders “continue to prioritize extreme government outreach over actual public safety." (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman via AP, file)

Texas state troopers line up below the University of Texas at Austin Tower to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus, April 29, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Nearly 80 criminal trespass cases filed after the campus protest have been dismissed as a prosecutor said Wednesday, June 26, 2024 that the reaction to protests showed that elected leaders “continue to prioritize extreme government outreach over actual public safety." (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman via AP, file)