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Demonstrators Killed in Attack on U.S. Embassy in Tunisia as Protests Spread

In the fourth day of protests that have rocked Western embassies across the Muslim world, protesters in Sudan torched the German embassy and attacked the British while protesters scaled the walls and attacked the U.S. embassy in Tunis.

By Adam Martin
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In the fourth day of protests sparked by an offensive film produced in the United States, demonstrators have attacked Western embassies across the Muslim world, storming German, British and U.S. embassies in Sudan and Tunisia. News is developing fast so we'll keep this information updated, below.

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Update (4:36 p.m. EDT): The Associated Press posted a useful rundown of the latest developments in 17 different countries. Click over there to read the latest and compare with John Hudson's map of the protests here at The Atlantic Wire.

Update (4:17 p.m. EDT): The protesters who set fire to the American school in Tunis made off with laptop computers and tablets, Reuters reported in the caption for this dramatic photo of the school ablaze:

Update (1:28 p.m. EDT): There's some disagreement about the death toll in Tunisia as the Associated Press reports two dead and 29 injured, citing "Tunisia's official news agency."

Update (1:12 p.m. EDT): The remains of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans who were killed in the attack of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, earlier this week are expected to return to the United States within the hour, with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton planning to be on hand to meet them.

Update (1:06 p.m. EDT): CNN's live broadcast contradicts Al Jazeera's, reporting that the embassy staff was inside when the protest started, and some staff is still there, with U.S. marines on the roof monitoring the situation. The protesters haven't reached the main building, the network reported, but they've burned some 50 cars, which accounts for that black smoke.

Update (1 p.m. EDT): According to Al Arabiya's Twitter stream, three protesters have been killed in front of the Tunisian embassy and 28 injured. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera English has death tolls from the rest of the protests:

Update (12:27 p.m. EDT): Fortunately, per AJE's broadcast, the staff was apparently not in the embassy when it was attacked.

Update (12:16 p.m. EDT): Al Jazeera's live stream shows the smoking U.S. embassy in Tunisia, where police continue to battle protesters:

Update (12:10 p.m. EDT): The Telegraph has a bit more on that American school reportedly attacked during the protests in Tunisia: "The school was closed and no one is believed to have been hurt. 'Obama, Obama, we are all Osamas,' the protesters chanted as they lit fires." CNN's broadcast reporter says the school is a primary school where classes are taught in English, across the street from the American embassy.

Update (12:02 p.m. EDT): Good news from the U.S. embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, via CNN:

Journalist Isma'il Kushkush says no protesters have been able to get inside the compound, and that police and security forces appear to have the situation under control.

Small fires are burning nearby. Kushkush said he believes protesters set tires ablaze.

Update (11:48 a.m. EDT): Ugh

Updae (11:41 a.m. EDT): Wall Street Journal Afghanistan editor Yaroslav Trofimov tweeted this screen grab from Al Jazeera of the black flag flying over the U.S. embassy in Tunisia:

Update (11:27 a.m. EDT): Meanwhile, back in Tripoli, KFC wasn't the only target for protesters furious with the United States. They also trashed a Hardees, per this Reuters photo:

Update (11:23 a.m. EDT): Reuters tweeted that protesters had set fire to an American school in Tunis, but there are no more details than that just yet.

Update (11:19 a.m. EDT): Al Jazeera on the chaos at the U.S. embassy in Tunis:

Update (11:16 a.m. EDT): Tunisian blogger Sarah Ben Hamadi tweeted this dramatic photo of the fire at the U.S. embassy there:

Update (11:03 a.m. EDT): The protesters in Tunis have taken down the U.S. flag at the embassy there and replaced it with a black one, CNN reports, noting that thick black smoke could be seen coming from the direction of the embassy.

Update (10:55 a.m. EDT): Gunfire has broken out at the U.S. embassies in both Tunisia and Sudan as protesters attacked. Reuters reports five protesters were injured in Tunisia. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera English has posted some of the first video of the attack earlier on the German embassy in Khartoum, Sudan:

Update (10:27 a.m. EDT): Protesters in Tunis have scaled the walls of the U.S. embassy there, setting fire to trees and breaking windows, Reuters reports.

Update (9:55 a.m. EDT): Protesters approached the U.S. embassy outside Khartoum but police repelled them using tear gas, Reuters reports via its live blog, per a witness. As many as 5,000 protesters had arrived in cars and buses, and set fires near the embassy compound, but they haven't breached the compound itself.

Update (9:15 a.m. EDT): Fortunately, CNN confirms the German embassy was evacuated before protesters stormed it, so while the building is in trouble, the people are safe.

Original: Germany's embassy in Sudan became the latest target of Muslim outrage against the West on Friday, as thousands of protesters stormed the grounds and set it on fire while others attacked the British embassy there. The details are still trickling in, but according to Der Spiegel about 5,000 protesters penetrated the embassy's grounds and tore down the German flag, raising an Islamist banner and setting the building aflame. The protesters at the British embassy next door are still outside the walls, according to the Associated Press. Fortunately, tweets CNN's RA Greene, the German embassy is likely empty because it's a Friday. Al Jazeera's main Arabic channel is carrying live coverage showing smoke and flames. The New York Times noted that protests were expected to flare up with a vengeance on Friday following Muslim prayers. Meanwhile, in Tripoli, Lebanon, protesters set fire to a KFC (that image to the left) as Pope Benedict arrived to call for peace.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.