News from Karachi: At least nine people were killed and 32 injured after hundreds of protesters stormed the United States consulate in Karachi on Sunday, smashing windows and clashing with security forces amid widespread anger over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel, according to rescuers and police.
Pakistani police fired tear gas on Sunday to disperse protesters who breached the outer wall of the US consulate in the southern city of Karachi following reports of US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pro-Iranian protesters also gathered outside the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, home to the US embassy.
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It described the violence as one of the most serious anti-US demonstrations in Pakistan in years, underscoring the rapidly expanding regional fallout following the assassination of Iran’s most powerful political and religious figure.
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Protesters set fire to a United Nations office building in Pakistan’s northern city of Skardu, in the usually peaceful Shia-majority Gilgit Baltistan region known for its Himalayan peaks popular with tourists, Reuters reported.
“A large number of protesters gathered outside the United Nations office in Great Britain and burned the building,” local government spokesman Shabbir Mir told Reuters, adding that no casualties had been reported.
Demonstrators breached the consulate building due to rising tensions
Crowds gathered near the diplomatic enclave hours after news of Khamenei’s death spread across the region. Witnesses said hundreds of protesters, many expressing pro-Iranian sentiments, tried to storm the compound.
An AFP journalist watched young protesters climb over the main gate and enter the driveway of the consulate building, where some smashed windows and damaged property. Protesters were also seen setting fire to parts of the premises during the riots.
Police and paramilitary personnel responded by deploying batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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Police official Mohammad Jawad said security forces moved quickly to regain control of the area. At least one protester was killed and several others were injured during clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies, he said.
Pakistan’s Edhi Rescue Service later confirmed that six people had died and several others had been injured during the unrest near the consulate.
Security forces tighten control as violence disrupts city traffic
Law enforcement agencies, including the police and Rangers, have stepped up security in the entire area following the clashes, reports GeoTV. The authorities tried to prevent further escalation and at the same time to restore order in the diplomatic zone.
Traffic in the surrounding districts was severely disrupted as the authorities closed the road from Sultanabad leading towards Mai Kolachi, causing significant traffic jams. Traffic police in Karachi implemented diversion of vehicles as the crowds dispersed and security operations continued.
The killing of Iran’s supreme leader triggers global upheaval
The protests erupted hours after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major strike by Israel and the United States, an operation that sharply escalated tensions in the Middle East and beyond.
The Israel Defense Forces described the attacks as part of “Operation Roaring Lion”, describing the action as the culmination of months of coordinated planning with US forces.
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“Our mission could not be clearer. The IDF will continue to act to eliminate emerging threats against Israel because the cost of action is too high,” IDF Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said in a video message on Sunday.
Local sources in Karachi said news of Khamenei’s assassination directly sparked protests outside the US diplomatic mission.
Iran declares national mourning after Khamenei’s death
Iran has announced 40 days of public mourning following the killing of its supreme leader, Iranian state media reported, citing Reuters. Flags are flown at half-mast and nationwide rallies are planned to commemorate the figure who dominated Iranian political life for more than three decades.
Ayatollah Khamenei succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989 and presided over what supporters described as an era of ideological continuity and resistance to Western influence.
The period of mourning marks the end of a 37-year chapter in Iran’s modern political history, even as regional tensions continue to rise after the strikes.
