At Least Nine Protestors Killed Attempting To Storm US Consulate After Ayatollah’s Death
At least nine protesters died and more than 50 others suffered injuries Sunday after hundreds of demonstrators tried to storm the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
President Donald Trump confirmed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed Saturday during U.S. and Israeli military strikes, known as Operation Epic Fury, with his body later recovered. Following the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader, violent clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in the southern port city in Pakistan, according to local authorities, The Associated Press reported.
Police and hospital officials said at least 25 of the wounded remained hospitalized, with several in critical condition. Six bodies initially arrived at the city’s primary government hospital alongside dozens of injured, The Associated Press reported, citing police surgeon Summaiya Syed Tariq. The toll climbed to nine after three patients in critical condition later died.
Senior police official Irfan Baloch said the crowd managed to reach the consulate’s outer boundary before officers drove them back. Baloch denied reports that any part of the consulate caught fire. Demonstrators did torch a neighboring police post and shatter consulate windows, Baloch said, before reinforcements restored order, the outlet reported.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan stated on X it was tracking protests at consulates in Karachi and Lahore, as well as planned gatherings at the embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Peshawar. The embassy told American citizens to steer clear of large crowds and stay vigilant.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi appealed for restraint. “Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, every citizen of Pakistan shares in the grief of the people of Iran,” Naqvi said in a statement, AP reported. He called it “a day of mourning for the Muslim Ummah and for the people of both Iran and Pakistan,” but urged citizens to channel their anger peacefully.
The turmoil extended well beyond Karachi. Officers in Islamabad deployed tear gas and wielded batons against Shiite marchers advancing toward the U.S. Embassy. Peshawar saw thousands push toward the consulate there, and Lahore experienced repeated confrontations near its U.S. facility, according to the outlet. Peaceful demonstrations reportedly took place in Multan, with more rallies planned in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs posted on X urging Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran. The advisory warned of possible travel disruptions from periodic airspace closures and directed citizens to follow security alerts from their nearest embassy or consulate.
“Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. They may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures,” TravelGov stated.
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