At Least 9 Killed in Pro-Iran Protest Outside US Consulate in Karachi

At least nine people have been killed near the United States consulate in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi after security forces opened fire to disperse hundreds of pro-Iran protesters early Sunday morning. The demonstrations erupted following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli military strikes.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Al Jazeera that at least nine bodies were brought to Karachi’s Civil Hospital. Several others were injured during the clashes.

Verified video footage shared online showed a wounded person being carried away by bystanders. Other images captured protesters attempting to storm the US consulate building on Mai Kolachi Road.

Large protests also broke out across Pakistan. In the northern city of Skardu in the Shia-majority Gilgit-Baltistan region, protesters set fire to a United Nations office building. Local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir told Reuters: “A large number of protesters have gathered outside the UN office in GB and burned down the building.” No casualties were reported from that incident.

In Lahore, hundreds gathered outside the US consulate, but police prevented any damage without using force, according to witness Aqeel Raza.

A demonstration is expected later Sunday near the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad, which houses the US embassy.

Protests over Khamenei’s killing have also spread to other countries, including Iraq, Morocco, and Indian-administered Kashmir. In Baghdad, pro-Iran protesters gathered outside the Green Zone where the US embassy is located.