At least eight people were killed and several others injured after violent clashes broke out between police and demonstrators outside the United States Consulate in Karachi, as protests over US–Israeli strikes on Iran intensified following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At least eight people were killed and many others injured after clashes erupted between police and demonstrators protesting US and Israeli strikes on Iran outside the United States Consulate in Karachi on Sunday, according to a report citing rescue officials, as anger over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spilled onto the streets.
Protests organised by Shia groups escalated near the diplomatic compound, with demonstrators marching from Sultanabad towards Mai Kolachi and attempting to move closer to the heavily guarded consulate premises.
Clashes near consulate, roads sealed
Authorities shut key arteries, including MT Khan Road and nearby intersections, after large crowds gathered. Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who allegedly pelted stones and attempted to breach security barricades.
Traffic police diverted vehicles and urged commuters to avoid the area as confrontations continued at multiple locations, including Nashim Chowrangi.
Mob storms entrance, vandalism reported
Scores of men forced their way towards the consulate premises as tensions escalated following the announced death of Khamenei.
Amid coordinated US–Israeli strikes against Iran, protesters gathered outside the consulate and stormed parts of its entrance area. Visuals circulating on social media showed a mob vandalising the entrance and reportedly setting parts of the building ablaze.
Earlier, Iranian state media confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death in the strikes. The Iranian government announced a 40-day mourning period following his death.
Protests spread beyond Pakistan
Meanwhile, demonstrators also gathered outside the US Embassy in Baghdad, as tensions surged in the Middle East amid renewed military confrontation.
Footage showed police clashing with protesters outside the Karachi consulate. While demonstrators threw stones, police used tear gas to disperse them. Another video showed men inside the consulate gate compound attempting to break windows and doors to enter the main building.
Demonstrators accused Washington of fuelling instability in the Middle East and demanded an end to foreign military involvement in the region.
Protests in Jammu and Kashmir
Protests also erupted in Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir, where demonstrators burned effigies of US President Donald Trump.
Syed Samar Kazmi, a Shia community leader, condemned Khamenei’s killing, alleging that the Iranian leader was killed by the US and Israel through deception.
“This is not the first time we have lost a leader, but we will not forget the death of our beloved leader. We will convey to our generations how America and Israel killed our leader by deception… A part of Muslims has always been on the path of the beloved leader and always said that we will always raise our voice for the oppressed… He was killed only because he raised his voice for the killings in Palestine while the world was silent,” he told ANI.
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