UN secretary general appalled by terrorist attack on church in Pakistan

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is "appalled" by the terrorist attack on a Christian church in north-western Pakistan, and urged the Government to do everything possible to find and bring the perpetrators to justice. The bombing reportedly killed at least 81 people and wounded 145 others as they were attending Sunday mass in Peshawar. "The Secretary-General condemns this atrocious bombing attack in the strongest possible terms," his spokesperson said. In the statement, Ban said he was "deeply concerned" about the repeated acts of blind violence against religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan. "These acts of terror cannot be justified by any cause," the UN chief stressed, extending condolences to the families of the victims, the people and Government of Pakistan. Ban also today reiterated the UN's solidarity with the Government's ongoing struggle against terrorism and extremism. He also urged authorities to continue taking steps to build tolerance and strengthen relationships between diverse religious and ethnic communities in the country.