UN strongly condemns ‘despicable’ Brussels terror bombings

United Nations: The UN strongly condemned the Brussels terror bombings by the ISIS, as the Security Council called for measures to prevent financing of terrorist outfits and individuals and the UN chief sought perpetrators of the “despicable attacks” to be swiftly brought to justice.

The 15-nation Security Council also stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to overcome terrorism and violent extremism, while reaffirming that “terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the terror attacks that ripped through the departure area of the international airport and a subway station in the busy morning hours in the Belgian capital and home to the headquarters of the European Union.

Around 35 people were killed and many more injured in yesterday’s attack, which came just four days after the Belgian police captured Salah Abdeslam – the only suspect in the Paris attack to have survived.

The Council “stressed the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organisations and individual terrorists” in accordance with UNSC resolutions and underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.

“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.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the “despicable attacks” yesterday and said those responsible should be swiftly brought to justice.

A statement issued by his spokesperson said Ban is confident that Belgium’s and Europe’s commitment to human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence will continue to be the “true and lasting response to the hatred and violence of which they became a victim today”.

President of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft said he is “horrified” by the attacks.

“We have in the last week seen atrocities in Turkey, Ivory Coast and now in Belgium. It must be condemned in the strongest terms,” Lykketoft said in a statement.

“Acts of terrorism are unjustifiable regardless of their motivation and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes on of the most serious threats to international peace and security. Acts of terrorism have no place in the modern world and only serve to strengthen the resolve of governments the world over to find and prosecute the individuals responsible,” he added.

The World Tourism Organisation said it is “deeply shocked by the tragic attacks” perpetrated.

“This is not an attack on Belgium, it is an attack on us all and sadly these tragic events remind us again that we are facing a global threat that needs to be addressed globally,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.