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Exclusive: U.S. Marines fired on protesters storming consulate in Karachi, officials say

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WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Marines opened fire on
demonstrators during the storming of the Karachi consulate over the
weekend, two U.S. officials said on Monday—a rare use of force at a
diplomatic post that could sharply escalate tensions in the country
amid widespread protests over the killing of Iran's leader. 

Ten people were killed on Sunday when protesters breached the compound’s
outer wall after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was
killed in strikes on Iran. 

Citing initial information, the two U.S. officials said it was unclear
whether rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. They also did
not know whether shots were also fired by others protecting the
mission, including private security guards and local police. 

This would mark the first confirmation by U.S. officials that Marines
were involved in firing at the protestors. 

A provincial government spokesman, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, said
"security" personnel had opened fire, without specifying their
affiliation. 

Daily security operations at U.S. diplomatic missions are often carried
out by private contractors and local forces, and the involvement of
Marines in the incident underscores how seriously the consulate viewed
the threat. 

Pakistan is home to the world’s second-largest Shi’ite community after
Iran. On Monday, Pakistan banned large gatherings nationwide after the
protests over the strikes on Iran spread, with 26 people reported dead
across the country. 

Protesters on Sunday chanted “Death to America! Death to Israel!”
outside the consulate, where Reuters reporters heard gunfire and saw
tear gas fired in surrounding streets. 

Video on social media appeared to show at least one protester firing a
weapon toward the consulate and bloodied demonstrators fleeing as shots
rang out. 

A Karachi police official told Reuters that the shots were fired from
inside the consulate premises. 

The U.S. Marines referred questions to the U.S. military, which in turn
referred questions to the State Department. The State Department did not
respond to a request for comment. 

Shi’ite community leaders have called for more protests in Lahore and
Karachi despite the nationwide ban on public gatherings. 

The U.S. embassy in Pakistan is in the capital, Islamabad, and there are
two additional consulates in Peshawar and Lahore. 

Roads leading to the U.S. consulate in Karachi were blocked off with a
heavy police presence in the area. Similar measures were in place around
U.S. missions in Lahore and Islamabad. 

Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by Simon
Lewis; Editing by Don Durfee and Cynthia Osterman 

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-marines-fired-protesters-st
orming-consulate-karachi-officials-say-2026-03-03/ 

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Exclusive: U.S. Marines fired on protesters storming consulate in Karachi, officials say Pelosi Goes To prison <noreply@mixmin.net> - 2026-03-03 09:31 +0000

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