KARACHI: US Marines fired their weapons during a protest at the US consulate in Karachi after demonstrators breached the compound’s outer wall, two US officials said on Monday. The incident, in which 10 people were killed, marks a rare use of force at a US diplomatic facility and comes amid nationwide unrest following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader in recent strikes on Iran.
According to the officials, it remains unclear whether rounds fired by the Marines struck or killed anyone. They also said it was not yet known whether additional shots were fired by other personnel securing the mission, including private contractors or local police.
Nine killed as pro-Iran protests erupt in Pakistan over reported death of Khamenei
The confrontation unfolded on Sunday when protesters forced their way through the outer perimeter of the consulate compound. A Karachi police official told Reuters that gunfire came from inside the premises. Video circulating on social media appeared to show at least one protester firing a weapon toward the building, while tear gas was deployed in surrounding streets.
Casualties and security response
Provincial government spokesman Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani said “security” personnel opened fire but did not specify which force was involved. The two US officials described the information as preliminary and said investigations were ongoing.
Daily security at US diplomatic missions is typically handled by private security contractors and local forces. The involvement of US Marines underscores the level of threat perceived at the consulate during the breach.
Roads leading to the Karachi consulate were sealed off on Monday, with a heavy police presence deployed in the area. Similar security measures were reported around US diplomatic facilities in Islamabad and Lahore.
Nationwide protests and restrictions
The violence followed widespread demonstrations across Pakistan after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in strikes on Iran. Pakistan, which has the world’s second-largest Shi’ite population after Iran, saw protests expand in multiple cities.
Authorities imposed a nationwide ban on large public gatherings on Monday as unrest spread. Local officials reported that 26 people had died across the country in protest-related violence.
Shi’ite community leaders called for further demonstrations in Karachi and Lahore despite the restrictions.
The US embassy in Pakistan is located in Islamabad, with consulates in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while the US Marines referred inquiries to the US military, which directed questions to the State Department.
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