Karachi, Pakistan (HRNW): Two U.S. officials have confirmed that on Sunday, U.S. military personnel (Marines) fired at protesters attempting to breach the U.S. Consulate Karachi compound. The incident occurred amid nationwide protests in Pakistan over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to reports by Reuters, around 10 individuals were reportedly targeted by gunfire when protesters broke through the consulate’s outer wall. Initial information from U.S. officials indicates it is unclear whether any Marines’ bullets struck anyone or resulted in fatalities, and it remains unknown whether other security personnel or local police also fired in defense of staff.
This marks the first official acknowledgment by U.S. authorities that Marines discharged weapons at the protesters. Provincial government spokesperson Sukhdio Asardas Hemnai confirmed that security personnel fired without specifying affiliation.
Typically, security at U.S. diplomatic missions relies on private contractors and local forces, making the Marines’ involvement indicative of the serious threat perceived at the Karachi consulate. Pakistan hosts the second-largest Shia community in the world after Iran, heightening sensitivities around such protests.
On Monday, authorities banned large gatherings due to fears of protests spreading against Iran, following reports of 26 deaths during previous nationwide demonstrations. On Sunday, protesters outside the Karachi consulate reportedly shouted slogans of “Death to America.” Reuters journalists on site reported gunfire and tear gas deployed in nearby streets. Social media videos show at least one individual being fired upon while approaching the consulate, followed by fleeing, bloodied protesters.
A Karachi police officer confirmed that gunfire originated from inside the consulate compound. The U.S. Marines have forwarded incident reports to their military command, which in turn relayed them to the U.S. Department of State, though the department has not yet commented publicly.
Shia community leaders have called for further protests in Karachi and Lahore, despite bans on public gatherings. U.S. diplomatic missions are also located in Islamabad (the embassy) and consulates in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Roads leading to the Karachi consulate were blocked, and heavy police deployments were in place; similar security measures were implemented around U.S. missions in Islamabad and Lahore.
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