UPDATE 3 - At least 10 killed as protesters storm US Consulate in Pakistan's Karachi over Khamenei killing

UPDATES WITH LATEST SITUATION IN CAPITAL ISLAMABAD, ADDS 2ND DECK, MINOR EDITS

By Aamir Latif and Islamuddin Sajid

KARACHI / ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - At least 10 people were killed and 40 others injured in clashes between police and charged protesters who managed to enter the US Consulate in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi on Sunday to protest the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel attack.

Dr. Sabir Memon, head of the Trauma Center at Civil Hospital, told Anadolu that bodies of nine protesters with gunshot wounds were brought to the facility, while another one died during treatment.

Another 31 injured, he added, were being treated, whereas at least eight were shifted to a private hospital by their families.

Two police constables were among the wounded, according to police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed.

Police fired teargas and resorted to aerial firing as hundreds of protesters marched toward the US mission in the city's southern district.

Dozens managed to enter the consulate premises, smashed windows, and set fire to a portion of the reception, multiple videos shared on social media platforms showed.

Angry crowds also torched a police check post outside the consulate and burned tires.

Protests even broke out in several other cities, including Lahore, where demonstrators clashed with police on their way to the US Consulate.

- UN office set on fire in Skardu

Protesters also set a UN office on fire in the Skardu district of the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Shabbir Mir, a spokesman for the regional government, told Anadolu that the region is on "high alert" as protest demonstrations are underway in several districts.

In the capital Islamabad, police blocked all roads leading to the Diplomatic Enclave that houses foreign embassies, including the US.

- Tear gassing in Islamabad

Protesters also gathered in the federal capital, initially assembling outside a hotel, where they staged a demonstration.

Police contained the crowd at that location for some time. However, as the number of demonstrators grew, they moved toward the Diplomatic Enclave and attempted to march in the direction of the US Embassy in Islamabad.

Security forces and police blocked access to the enclave and did not permit the protesters to proceed.

The situation turned tense when some individuals attempted to force their way toward the embassy. In response, law enforcement authorities used tear gas and carried out aerial firing to disperse the crowd.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later arrived at the scene and engaged with the demonstrators, urging them to remain peaceful, and negotiations with protest representatives "are currently underway," said a ministry spokesman.

Meanwhile, The US Embassy in Islamabad urged its citizens in Pakistan to "observe good personal security practices, including being aware of your surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring your STEP registration is up to date."

The government of Sindh province, for which Karachi serves as the capital, has formed a committee to investigate the clashes and killings of protesters.

Expressing sorrow and grief over the casualties, the government urged the protesters to lodge their protest "peacefully."