At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 injured in Karachi on Sunday after clashes broke out between police and protesters marching towards the United States Consulate, hospital and rescue officials said.

The violence erupted on MT Khan Road, near Mai Kolachi Road, as crowds marched towards the consulate to protest against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli air strike. The Edhi Welfare Organisation confirmed that nine people had been killed near Mai Kolachi Road during the firing and unrest, and the toll later rose to 10 after one injured person died in hospital.

Dr Sabir Memon, head of the trauma centre at Civil Hospital Karachi, said 32 injured people had been brought in for treatment. The hospital said the injuries were caused by gunfire, baton charges and stampedes during the clashes. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said six bodies were initially brought to the hospital, and the death toll rose as critically wounded people died.

Those killed were named as 23-year-old Kazim, 26-year-old Mubarak, 25-year-old Adil, 25-year-old Abbas, 20-year-old Khawar Abbas, 28-year-old Sajid Ali and 23-year-old Muhammad Ali. Two of the dead remained unidentified.

Demonstrators had gathered outside the consulate and tried to advance towards the premises, throwing stones, after which police used tear gas and other force to disperse the crowd. According to an official statement by the Sindh government, demonstrators breached the external security perimeter of the consulate, entered the premises and caused damage. Angry protesters also set a traffic police post in Sultanabad on fire, and roads around Numaish Chowrangi were closed.

The rally had set off from Abbas Town on Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, with organisers and supporters of Shia organisations gathering at Numaish Chowrangi before moving towards the consulate. A heavy police contingent remained deployed on MT Khan Road, and traffic from Jinnah Bridge was diverted towards II Chundrigar Road.

The Sindh government has formed a high-level joint investigation team to conduct an impartial review of the events. The team will determine the circumstances of the incident, its causes and who is responsible, the government said. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah described the incident as extremely regrettable, ordered an impartial investigation and held consultations with religious leaders to keep public emotions under control.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a video message that the day was one of mourning for the Muslim community and for the people of Iran and Pakistan, and urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands. He asked that any protests be held peacefully. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar sought immediate details from the Additional Inspector General of Police in Karachi and said no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Islamabad said it was monitoring reports of demonstrations at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for further demonstrations at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Peshawar. It advised US citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news, avoid large crowds and keep their travel registration up to date.

Protests were also reported in other cities on Sunday. In Islamabad, the district administration imposed Section 144, banning all types of public gatherings, and roads leading to the Red Zone, which houses diplomatic missions and parliament, were blocked. In Lahore, police used tear gas to disperse a rally, and protesters later staged a sit-in outside the Press Club. In Peshawar, police prevented demonstrators from marching towards the US Consulate.

The protests followed the killing of Khamenei, 86, in US and Israeli air strikes on Saturday, which Iranian state media confirmed. Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones in response, targeting US troops in the region and cities in Israel and allied Arab countries.