Pepertrators of Kenya attack must be brought to justice: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has sent "a personal letter" to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta about a deadly terrorist attack on a university in eastern Kenya, saying "those responsible for this heinous attack must be brought to justice," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Saturday.

In the letter sent to the Kenyan president on Friday, the secretary-general once again expressed his "sincere condolences" following the horrendous attack on Garissa University on Friday, Dujarric said in a note to the press here.

"There is little more appalling than targeting young people for murder and mayhem," Ban said in the letter, adding "Those responsible for this heinous attack must be brought to justice."

According to the spokesman, the secretary-general also reiterated the solidarity of the United Nations with the people and government of Kenya in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism. He wrote to the Kenyatta that "at this time of profound shock and grief, his thoughts are with the families of the victims and all the people of Kenya."

On Thursday, Ban condemned the attack on a university in Garissa, Kenya.

On Friday, the UN Security Council said all its 15 members were "outraged" by a deadly terrorist attack on a university in eastern Kenya, reiterating "their determination to combat all forms of terrorism" under the UN Charter.

Somali militant burst into the university on Thursday and killed 147 students in what is the worst terrorist attack since 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in the country.

Al Shabaab, the Somali terrorist group and one of the most violent franchises of al-Qaida, immediately claimed responsibility for the Thursday attack. Endite