US Marines Fire on Protesters at Karachi Consulate Amid Unrest
Violence Erupts at US Consulate in Karachi
On Sunday, US Marines discharged their weapons at demonstrators who had breached the US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, during a protest against the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This incident was reported by two unnamed US officials on Tuesday.
This event marks an unusual instance of force being used at a US diplomatic site, and it is the first acknowledgment from US officials regarding the involvement of Marines in the shooting during the chaos. The Marines are tasked with safeguarding American diplomatic facilities worldwide.
The officials indicated that it remains uncertain if the rounds fired by the Marines resulted in any injuries or fatalities. They also mentioned that it was unclear whether other security personnel, such as private contractors or local police, had also discharged their weapons.
Tragically, ten individuals lost their lives, and over sixty sustained injuries during the unrest after protesters managed to breach the outer wall of the consulate compound.
Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, a spokesperson for the provincial government, stated that security forces had opened fire on the protesters outside the consulate, although he did not clarify which specific group was involved.
A police officer from Karachi mentioned that the shots originated from within the consulate grounds.
BREAKING:
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US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, is now under attack by protesters. pic.twitter.com/rK6g5PZ3G0
Following Khamenei's death during a joint military operation by the US and Israel, protests erupted across various regions in Pakistan. Khamenei was regarded as a significant figure among Shia Muslims worldwide.
Reports indicate that clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in twenty-six fatalities across the country.
In response to the escalating violence, Pakistan's government deployed military forces and instituted a three-day curfew to prohibit large gatherings, as reported by a news outlet.
On Tuesday, students in Lahore also protested outside the US consulate, expressing their outrage over Khamenei's assassination and the Marines' actions in Karachi.
A heavy police presence, including female officers, was established outside the consulate, with authorities erecting barricades to deter demonstrators from approaching the site.