JAKARTA - At least nine people were killed and 40 others were injured in clashes between police and protesters who stormed the US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, as they protested the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack.
Dr. Sabir Memon, head of the Trauma Centre at the Karachi Civil Hospital, said the bodies of nine protesters with gunshot wounds were brought to the hospital.
A total of 32 injured victims were treated at the same hospital, while eight others were transferred by their families to private hospitals, he said.
According to police doctor Dr. Summaiya Syed, two police officers were among the dozens of injured victims in the incident.
Police fired tear gas and fired into the air as hundreds of protesters moved towards the US Consulate in southern Karachi.
A number of videos circulating on social media showed dozens of protesters successfully entering the consulate complex, breaking windows, and burning part of the reception room.
The crowd also burned a police checkpoint outside the consulate and set tires on fire.
Similar protests also took place in several other cities, including Lahore, where protesters clashed with police as they moved towards the US Consulate.
In the capital city of Islamabad, police blocked all roads leading to the diplomatic area where foreign embassies are located, including the US Embassy.
Meanwhile, the government of the Sindh Province, whose capital is Karachi, formed a committee to investigate the clashes and deaths of protesters.
While expressing condolences for the loss of life, the local government also urged protesters to convey their aspirations peacefully.
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