UN Security Council slams deadly terrorist attack in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi army personnel stand guard during a rescue operation after an attack at a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Gulshan, Bangladesh, July 2, 2016. Gunmen killed 20 foreigners soon after they stormed a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka in Bangladesh's worst hostage crisis, a spokesman of the Bangladesh Army said on Saturday. (Xinhua/Shariful Islam)

UNITED NATIONS, July 2 -- The UN Security Council on Saturday "strongly condemned the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack perpetrated in the city of Dhaka," Bangladesh, which killed more than 20 Bangladeshi nationals and foreigners.

"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 council said in a statement issued to the press here.

The council members stressed the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organizations and individual terrorists, in accordance with resolutions 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015), said the statement.

The Islamic State in Iraq, also known as the ISIL or Da'esh) has claimed responsibility for the attack, which also injured at least 40 people, including senior police officials.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonon Saturday condemned the deadly terrorist attack in a restaurant in Dhaka, voicing his hope that "those behind this crime will be identified and brought to justice."

The council members expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, to the people and government of Bangladesh, as well as peoples and governments of foreign victims, and they wished speedy and full recovery to those who 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," 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 terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation and wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group," it 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 added.

Some 13 hostages, including one Japanese and two Sri Lankans, were rescued after a two-hour operation by Army commandos.

After planning and waiting through the night, Bangladesh Army-led joint forces launched the assault at around 7:40 a.m. local time (0140 GMT) Saturday.

More than 1,000 rounds of bullets were reportedly fired and explosions were heard in the first 30 minutes of the raid when army men in armored vehicles tore down a wall of the cafe and the commandos galloped into it through the breach.