2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council slams deadly terrorist attack in Cairo

The UN Security Council on Sunday "condemned in the strongest terms" a terrorist attack in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, which killed at least 25 people, stressing that "those responsible for these killings should be held accountable."

The 15-nation UN body, in a press statement issued here, said that "the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack" took place in St. Peter's Church attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," the statement said.

Earlier on Sunday, a bomb went off inside the church in Cairo's Abassiya neighborhood that was full of worshippers attending Sunday mass, leaving 25 people dead and 49 others injured, 10 of them in critical condition, reports said.

Local news reports said that initial inspections revealed that the blast was caused by a 12-kilogram highly-explosive TNT bomb.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, fingers are pointed at the Islamic State-affiliated Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) group which operates in the country's restive North Sinai province. The council members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Egypt and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Security Council also condemned the terrorist attack that took place in Giza, Egypt on Friday, during which six Egyptian policemen were killed and a number of civilians were injured, said the statement.

"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Egypt and all other relevant authorities in this regard," the statement said.

"They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement said.

"They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts," the statement said. Endit