At least 10 killed as Pakistani protesters storm US Consulate in Karachi

At least 10 protesters were killed and 40 others wounded in Karachi on Sunday after hundreds of angry demonstrators stormed the US Consulate to protest the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli military attack. The violence marks a dramatic escalation of regional tensions spilling into Pakistan, with protesters breaching diplomatic premises and clashing with security forces.

Dr. Sabir Memon, head of the Trauma Center at Civil Hospital, confirmed to Anadolu that nine protesters died from gunshot wounds before reaching the facility, while another succumbed during treatment. An additional 31 injured individuals remain under medical care, with at least eight others taken to private hospitals by their families. Two police constables were also among the wounded, according to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed.

Consulate Breach and Violent Clashes

Police fired teargas and resorted to aerial firing as hundreds of demonstrators marched toward the US mission in Karachi's southern district, with dozens managing to enter the consulate premises. Multiple videos circulating on social media showed protesters smashing windows and setting fire to a portion of the reception area, while angry crowds also torched a police checkpoint outside the consulate and burned tires in the streets.

The storming of the diplomatic facility represents one of the most serious attacks on American interests in Pakistan in recent years, highlighting the depth of public anger over the killing of Iran's top leader.

Nationwide Unrest Spreads

Protests erupted across multiple Pakistani cities, with demonstrators in Lahore clashing with police while attempting to reach the US Consulate there. In the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, protesters set a United Nations office on fire in the Skurdu district, forcing regional authorities to place the area on "high alert," according to government spokesman Shabbir Mir.

In the capital Islamabad, police blocked all roads leading to the Diplomatic Enclave housing foreign embassies, including the American mission. The US Embassy in Islamabad urgently advised American citizens in Pakistan to "observe good personal security practices, including being aware of your surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring your STEP registration is up to date."

Government Response and Investigation

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed that the government shares the grief of protesters while urging them to remain peaceful. The Sindh provincial government, for which Karachi serves as the capital, has formed a committee to investigate the clashes and killings of protesters, expressing sorrow over the casualties while urging demonstrators to lodge their protests "peacefully."

The violent reaction across Pakistan underscores the profound impact of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, sending shockwaves through the Muslim world and igniting fury among populations already angered by Western policies in the region. As tensions continue to simmer, Pakistani authorities face the challenge of balancing public outrage with the need to protect diplomatic missions and maintain order.