Nine Fatalities Reported as Protesters Attack US Consulate and Ignite UN Building in Pakistan

At least nine people were killed when demonstrators overwhelmed the US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday morning.

These protests erupted following the news of the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Al Jazeera, numerous individuals were injured as security personnel discharged firearms to disperse the crowd of pro-Iranian demonstrators attempting to breach the consulate early that Sunday.

A police doctor revealed to the media that a total of nine deceased individuals were taken to a civil hospital in Karachi. Significant protests were also observed in various other regions of Pakistan.

Protesters set fire to a United Nations office in Skardu, a city located in Pakistan's northern region of Gilgit Baltistan, which holds a considerable Shia Muslim population familiar with its popular Himalayan tourist spots.

“Many demonstrators amassed outside the UN building in GB and set it ablaze,” local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir informed Reuters, noting that no casualties were reported in that incident, as highlighted by Al Jazeera.

Pakistan predominantly follows Sunni Islam, but it is home to millions of Shia Muslims as well.

In a related development, protests reverberated against Khamenei's killing across countries such as Iraq, Morocco, and Indian-administered Kashmir. The Iranian leader was killed during US and Israeli military strikes on Saturday night, with Iranian officials confirming his death early Sunday.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pledged vengeance for Khamenei's death, initiating numerous retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli targets in the Middle East. However, US President Donald Trump has cautioned against such reprisals.

Calls for de-escalation and dialogue between conflicting parties have been made by countries including Nigeria, which also has a Shia minority, especially in the northern regions. However, as of this report, no protests have occurred in Nigeria related to this matter.