26th May, 2017
The UN Security Council on Friday condemned terrorist attack on a bus in Egypt, where at least 28 people were killed and dozens, including children, were injured.
They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Egypt, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
The 15-member Council, whose rotating membership currently includes Egypt, began a regularly scheduled meeting on Friday with a moment of silence in honour of the victims.
In a statement that followed, the Council reiterated that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”
“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack that took place on a bus travelling to a monastery in Minya, Egypt.”
The bus was conveying members of the Egypt Coptic Christians when gunmen opened fire on them killing 28 people including children and injuring dozens others.
Perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these “reprehensible acts of terrorism” need to be brought to justice, the members said.
The statement, issued by the Council President for May 2017, Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay), called on Governments to cooperate actively with the Egyptian Government and all relevant authorities.
“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-member Council reiterated “that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed”.
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”.
This includes international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, the 15-member body said.