At least nine people were killed and several more injured on Sunday after protesters reportedly stormed the US consulate in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi and clashed with police to protest joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Police and hospital officials told the Associated Press news agency that at least eight people were injured in the violence. Emergency workers cited by cnn He said about 20 people were injured after hundreds of protesters gathered near the heavily fortified diplomatic compound.
Karachi police spokesperson Rehan Ali said cnn that “hundreds of people suddenly appeared near the American consulate,” prompting a police response. Authorities later dispersed the protesters and said the situation was under control, the AP reported.
Videos geolocated by CNN showed protesters breaking security barricades and hitting parts of the consulate’s exterior with sticks, while gunshots could be heard in at least one clip. Separately, images circulating on social media showed flames and smoke near an entrance area as protesters gathered outside the complex, although these could not be independently verified.
Protests break out after Iran confirms death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The protests came after Iranian state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following large-scale military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. US President Donald Trump indicated that the attacks were aimed at dismantling Iran’s leadership and warned that more attacks could continue.
The attacks targeted multiple locations across Iran, including military-linked sites, and Iranian media reported numerous casualties. Iran has declared a period of national mourning as tensions rise in the region and fears of a wider conflict rise.
