Nine Dead in Clashes at US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
A brutal and lethal attack by Israel and the United States against Iran on Saturday (28 February) shocked the world.
Nine people were reported killed and 40 others injured in clashes between police and demonstrators who attempted to breach the US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. The action was triggered by protests over the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in a combined American and Israeli military strike.
Sabir Memon, head of the Trauma Centre at Karachi Civil Hospital, stated that nine bodies of protesters with gunshot wounds had been brought to the medical facility. Additionally, 32 injured victims were treated at the same hospital, whilst eight others received care at private hospitals by their families.
Summaiya Syed, a police doctor, noted that two police officers were also among those injured in the incident.
The unrest occurred when hundreds of demonstrators moved towards the US Consulate in southern Karachi. Police responded by firing tear gas and issuing warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
Several videos circulating on social media showed some protesters successfully entering the consulate complex, damaging windows, and setting fire to part of the reception area. The crowd was also reported to have set fire to a police checkpoint outside the consulate and burned tyres in the vicinity.
Protest actions related to the Iran-US conflict also took place in several other cities, including Lahore, where demonstrators clashed with authorities whilst attempting to approach the US Consulate. In the capital Islamabad, police closed all access to the diplomatic zone, which hosts various foreign embassies including the US Embassy.
In response to the incident, the Sindh Provincial Government, headquartered in Karachi, formed an investigation committee to examine the clashes and casualties. Local authorities expressed condolences over the incident whilst urging the public to voice their grievances peacefully.
Sheikh Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi remained closed following the escalating Middle East conflict, which led to airspace closures and numerous flight cancellations.
Maman Imanul Haq, member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament, called on the government through the Indonesian Embassy in the Middle East region to take emergency measures immediately.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most strategically important oil route. Understanding who controls it and the severe consequences if this passage were to be completely closed remains critical.