Several injured as march heads towards US Consulate; tear gas fired, routes sealed near Numaish
Clashes broke out between police and protesters on MAJ Khan Road in Karachi as protestors marched towards the US Consulate in demonstrations against the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Several people were injured on Sunday after clashes broke out between police and protesters on MT Khan Road as crowds marched towards the US Consulate following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli air strike.
Shia organisations had announced a march towards the US Consulate in Karachi in protest of the Ayatollah’s death and voiced their intention to march towards the mission.
Edhi Information confirmed that several injured were shifted to Civil Hospital after reports of firing. A heavy police contingent remained deployed on MT Khan Road.
Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, while protesters responded with stone-throwing, according to reports.
The rally set off from Abbas Town on Abul Hasan Isphahani Road. Organisers and a large number of workers from Shia organisations also began gathering at Numaish Chowrangi.
Participants, including organisers and supporters of Shia groups, were seen moving towards the US Consulate as the gathering continued.
Read: More strikes aimed at Iran after US, Israeli assault kills supreme leader Khamenei
Traffic police said routes leading to Numaish Chowrangi had been closed and alternative routes were being provided to motorists.
Angry protesters also set the traffic police post in Sultanabad on fire.
The United States and Israel said an air strike killed Khamenei as part of what they described as the most ambitious series of attacks on Iran in decades. Iranian state media confirmed the 86-year-old leader’s death on Saturday.
US President Donald Trump said the air strikes on Iranian targets were aimed at ending a decades-long threat from Iran and ensuring it could not develop a nuclear weapon, as he sought to justify a risky move that appeared to go against his professed opposition to American involvement in complex overseas conflicts.
On Saturday, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones in response to the initial attacks, targeting US troops in the region and cities in Israel and Arab countries allied with Washington, leading to widespread flight cancellations across the region.
