UN Security Council slams deadly terrorist attack in Turkey

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Monday condemned "in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack" at a wedding ceremony in Turkey.

"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 15-nation UN body said in a press statement.

The suicide attack in the southeastern city of Gaziantep in Turkey last Saturday killed at least 54 people, including 29 children, and injured more than 200.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Turkey and they wished speedy and full recovery to those who were injured, said the statement.

They underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Turkish government and all other relevant authorities in this regard, said the statement.

"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," it said.

On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the deadly attack in a statement and voiced his hope that "the perpetrators of this act will be quickly identified and brought to justice."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the brutal terror attack was carried out by a teenager aged 12 to 14 and initial findings showed it was perpetrated by the Islamic State (IS) group.