US Marines Opened Fire On Protesters At Karachi Consulate Confirms US Officials

United States Marines opened fire on demonstrators who stormed the US consulate in Karachi over the weekend, according to statements from US officials on Monday. The incident, which occurred amid widespread protests following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marks a rare use of force at a diplomatic post.

Sources indicate that ten people were killed on Sunday after protesters breached the outer wall of the consulate compound. US officials, citing initial information, stated that it remains unclear whether the rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. They also noted uncertainty regarding whether shots were fired by other security personnel, including private guards or local police, who were also protecting the mission.

This is the first time US officials have confirmed that Marines were involved in firing at protesters during the incident. A spokesperson for the Sindh government, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, confirmed that "security" personnel had opened fire, but did not specify which group was responsible.

In response to the security breach and subsequent casualties, police authorities have taken disciplinary action. According to reports, seven police officers have been suspended for negligence in the aftermath of the incident. The Inspector General of Police, Javed Alam Odho, initiated the suspensions following an internal review of the security lapses at the consulate.

During the protests, police also deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators who had gathered outside the consulate in solidarity with Iran. The incident has drawn criticism from officials, with Sindh Home Minister Lanjar describing the events at the US consulate as unacceptable.

There are discrepancies in the reported details, particularly regarding the number of casualties and the exact sequence of events. While some sources report ten fatalities, US officials have not confirmed whether Marine gunfire was responsible for any deaths. The investigation into the incident and the actions of various security forces is ongoing.