Pakistani protest the largest yet in the Muslim world ‘over the Muhammad video’

The US embassy in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has become the latest target of protesters in the Arab and Muslim world, still citing the Muhammad video as the cause.

photo/Jennifer Parr

The total number of protesters reached around 5,000 later on Thursday with the arrival of protesters carrying the flags of hardline Islamist groups.

At least 50 people were injured as police fired tear gas and live rounds towards the crowds.

Hundreds of students from various colleges and educational institutions in Islamabad had begun clashing with police as security forces tried to block them from reaching the embassy compoud, which also includes the British and French diplomatic missions.

The students responded by pelting the police with stones, and the police retaliated by firing tear gas shells.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said the situation was eventually brought under “control” by police and the military.

“Police tried to control the crowd by firing in the air and using tear gas. But because of the size of the crowd, the police were forced to ask for help from the military,” he said.

Many thousands were trying to march but were prevented by the security forces, said our correspondent. He said military helicopters have been hovering over the area where the protests are taking place.

Several students were injured when policemen hurled the stones back at the crowd. According to local television channels, several policemen were also injured.

“Our policemen are not any better than the Americans because they are trying to stop us. They are in the same league as them, they are heretics like them,” said student Jawad Ahmed.

“They should allow us to demolish the American embassy because they have blasphemed against our holy Prophet. The police are also becoming an accomplice of blasphemers.”