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2026 attack on the United States consulate in Karachi

Coordinates: 24°50′28″N 67°00′35″E / 24.8410°N 67.0098°E / 24.8410; 67.0098
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2026 attack on the United States consulate in Karachi
Part of pro-Iranian protests during the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran and anti-American sentiment in Pakistan
Map
Location24°50′28″N 67°00′35″E / 24.8410°N 67.0098°E / 24.8410; 67.0098
Karachi, Pakistan
DateMarch 1, 2026 (2026-03-01) (PKT, UTC+05:00)
TargetConsulate General of the United States, Karachi
Attack type
Arson, riot, vandalism, stone throwing
Deaths10–16
Injured60+
MotiveReaction to the assassination of Ali Khamenei during the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran

On 1 March 2026,[1][2] the Consulate General of the United States in Karachi, Pakistan was targeted by armed Shia Muslim protestors[3][4][5] following strikes on Iran by the US and Israel in which Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated.[6][7] As the protestors stormed the consulate and breached the outer wall, the Marine Security Guards opened fire, killing 10–16 protesters and injuring over 60.[8][9][10]

Protesters set fire and broke windows during the attack. They attempted to enter the consulate and threw stones at constables and Rangers, who responded by pushing them back. At one point, a protester opened fire with a pistol.[11] The police dispersed crowds with tear gas near Mai Kolachi Road, while protesters continued to throw stones along M. T. Khan Road.[12] Additionally, a traffic police post beneath the Sultanabad Bridge was set on fire.

Several roads, including those leading to Namish Chowrangi and from Sultanabad to Mai Kolachi, were closed. Traffic from Jinnah Bridge was redirected to I. I. Chundrigar Road, and vehicles coming from Boat Basin were forced to make a U-turn at Mai Kolachi Phatak.[13]

Background

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Main article: Pro-Iranian protests during the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran

The protest was triggered by the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader since 1989, in a series of US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets on 28 February 2026.[6][3] Khamenei's death sparked immediate outrage across the Muslim world, particularly among Shiite communities, leading to calls for demonstrations against the US and Israel.[14]

In Pakistan, a country with a significant Shiite minority, pro-Iranian groups mobilized quickly. Protests were organized in multiple cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, with demonstrators chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.[15] Protestors also accused the Pakistani government of siding with the US during the conflict.[8] The US Consulate General in Karachi, located in the high-security zone, became a focal point due to its symbolic representation of American presence in the region.[3]

Protest

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The demonstration began in the early morning of 1 March 2026, with hundreds of protesters gathering near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road in Karachi.[16] Protesters, many affiliated with Shia organizations, carried banners condemning the US and Israel and expressed solidarity with Iran.[17] The crowd initially remained peaceful but grew agitated, leading to attempts to breach the consulate's outer wall.[18]

Security forces, including the Sindh Police and Pakistan Rangers, responded with tear gas and batons to prevent entry.[6] Clashes intensified as protesters threw stones, vandalized the building's exterior, and set fire to vehicles.[15] Reports indicate that the US marines stationed at the embassy used gunfire to disperse the crowd, resulting in 10–16 fatalities and over 60 injuries among the protesters.[8][9] The Edhi rescue service confirmed the casualties, noting that several of the wounded were in critical condition.[3]

The protest lasted several hours before authorities regained control.[14] No breaches of the inner consulate were reported, and US staff remained safe.[19]

Aftermath

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Following the protest, the United States Embassy in Islamabad issued a security alert and shut down all US diplomatic facilities across Pakistan. Three protestors were also killed near the embassy.[17][8][20] Consulates in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar were closed, and all appointments scheduled for 2 March 2026, were canceled.[19] US citizens were urged to stay away from large gatherings.[18]

Shortly after, the Pakistani Army was deployed to supress the escalation of violence during Pro-Iranian protests in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu, specially after Shiite demonstrators attacked on 1 March the offices of the UN Military Observer Group at Kashmir. [21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rauf, Sajid (1 March 2026). "Police, protesters clash in Karachi after Iran's Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strike". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Protesters attack US Consulate in Karachi over Khamenei killing". Business Recorder. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d "At least 22 people killed in Pakistan as protesters try to storm US Consulate". AP News. 2 March 2026. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  4. ^ "US consulate in Pakistan stormed by protesters". The Jerusalem Post. 1 March 2026. ISSN 0792-822X. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  5. ^ Dada, Hussain (1 March 2026). "Charred motorcycles and the smell of gunpowder — Recounting the protest outside the US consulate in Karachi". Dawn. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "At least 9 killed in pro-Iran protest at US consulate in Pakistan's Karachi". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Hundreds of people storm US Consulate in Pakistans Karachi after Khameneis death". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d "Pakistan calls troops, orders 3-day curfew as 24 killed in pro-Iran rallies". Al Jazeera. 2 March 2026. Archived from the original on 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  9. ^ a b Sharma, Shivani; Mishra, Ashutosh (2 March 2026). "35 killed in Pakistan as pro-Khamenei protests near US embassies turn deadly". India Today. Archived from the original on 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ^ Peltier, Elian; ur-Rehman, Zia; Akbary, Yaqoob (1 March 2026). "Protesters Try to Storm U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  11. ^ "کراچی میں امریکی قونصلیٹ پر حملہ، کم ازکم نو مظاہرین ہلاک" (in Urdu). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  12. ^ "کراچی میں مظاہرین کا امریکی قونصلیٹ پر دھاوا، اندر داخل ہو کر آگ لگا دی". اسلام ٹائمز (in Urdu). 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  13. ^ "کراچی: امریکی قونصل خانے کے قریب ہنگامہ آرائی، فائرنگ سے 9 افراد جاں بحق". jang.com.pk (in Urdu). Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Nine killed as protests break out in Pakistan, Iraq over Khamenei's death". Reuters. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Protests erupt in different cities across Pakistan; 9 dead in violent clashes near US Consulate in Karachi". Dawn. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  16. ^ "9 killed in pro-Iran protest at US consulate in Pakistan's Karachi". France 24. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  17. ^ a b "At least 6 killed in Pakistan clashes after US Consulate stormed over Khamenei's killing". The Independent. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Nine Killed in Pro-Iran Protests at US Consulate in Pakistan". Bloomberg L.P. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  19. ^ a b "Security Alert: U.S. Mission to Pakistan (March 1, 2026)". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Pakistan. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 2 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  20. ^ Junaidi, Ikram (3 March 2026). "Death toll in capital protest rises to three". Dawn. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Pakistan deploys troops and imposes curfew after deadly Iran protests". France 24. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
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