US Marines fired at protesters who stormed consulate in Karachi after Khamenei death: Report

The United States Marines opened fire at protesters who had stormed the US Consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi on Sunday during a demonstration against the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters quoted two unidentified US officials as saying on Tuesday.

This would mark a rare use of force at a US diplomatic mission and the first confirmation by US officials that Marines were involved in firing during the unrest. The US Marines are military personnel assigned to protect American diplomatic missions around the world.

The two officials told Reuters that it was unclear whether rounds fired by the Marines struck or killed anyone. They also added that they did not know whether shots were fired by other personnel guarding the mission, including private security contractors or local police.

However, ten persons were killed and more than 60 injured on Sunday after protesters breached the compound’s outer wall.

A provincial government spokesperson, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani was quoted as saying by Reuters that “security” personnel had opened fire at the protesters outside the US Consulate on Sunday, but he did not specify which force was involved.

An unidentified Karachi police officer was quoted as saying that the shots were fired from inside the consulate premises.

BREAKING:

US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, is now under attack by protesters....

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