KARACHI, Pakistan — March 1, 2026: At least 9 to 10 protesters were killed and dozens more injured after violent clashes erupted outside the United States Consulate in Karachi, as demonstrators reacted to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes.

Hundreds of protesters marched toward the heavily guarded diplomatic compound, chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans before breaching outer security barriers. Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as demonstrators smashed property, burned vehicles, and clashed with police and consulate security forces.

Security personnel and police responded with tear gas, aerial firing, and live ammunition. Hospital officials confirmed that most of those killed suffered gunshot wounds, while at least 40 others were injured in the confrontation.

Officials said protesters managed to enter parts of the consulate compound, damaging the reception area and setting fires. Police checkpoints outside the compound were also torched as tensions spiraled out of control.

A local government spokesperson confirmed that consulate guards opened fire after protesters breached the outer perimeter, while authorities said investigations were underway to determine the sequence of events that led to the deadly escalation.

Unrest spreads beyond Karachi

The violence quickly spread beyond Pakistan’s commercial capital, with protests erupting in Lahore, Islamabad, and other cities. Police in Islamabad sealed off diplomatic zones to prevent demonstrators from reaching foreign embassies, while tear gas was used to disperse crowds attempting to march toward diplomatic compounds.

In northern Pakistan, protesters set fire to a United Nations office building, highlighting the scale of anger across the country following Khamenei’s death.

Diplomatic warnings and global implications

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad issued warnings advising American citizens to avoid large crowds and remain vigilant amid ongoing unrest. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged protesters to remain peaceful while acknowledging widespread grief over the Iranian leader’s death.

Pakistan and Iraq, which have large Shiite Muslim populations, have seen widespread demonstrations since news of the killing emerged, raising fears of broader regional instability and attacks on Western diplomatic missions.

A dangerous turning point

The deadly confrontation marks one of the most serious attacks on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Pakistan in recent years and underscores the global fallout from Khamenei’s killing.

Security has been tightened at U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide amid fears of further retaliatory protests, while governments and international organizations brace for prolonged instability and potential escalation across the Middle East and beyond.

Sources: Reuters, France24