Did the UN Chief Condemn the Attack on a Mosque in Syria?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- UN condemns violence: The UN Secretary-General condemned the attack on the mosque.
- Multiple casualties: The death toll has risen to eight.
- Ongoing investigations: Security teams are actively investigating the incident.
- Call for accountability: Emphasis on holding those responsible accountable.
- Support for victims: Condolences and support extended to the victims' families.
United Nations, Dec 27 (NationPress) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly denounced the horrific terrorist attack on a mosque located in Homs, Syria, as stated by his spokesperson.
The incident took place during the Friday prayers at the Ali Bin Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab area of Homs, according to a statement released by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Guterres emphasized that attacks targeting civilians and sacred sites are completely unacceptable, insisting that those accountable must be identified and held responsible, as noted in the statement.
"The Secretary-General conveys his condolences to the families of the deceased and expresses his heartfelt sympathy to all the injured, wishing them a swift and full recovery," it further stated.
As per Syria's health authorities, the death toll from the explosion at the mosque has tragically climbed to eight.
According to initial reports, five casualties were confirmed, with 21 others suffering injuries due to the explosion during Friday prayers at the mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood of Homs, a central Syrian city, as stated by health officials.
Najib al-Naasan, the director of referral, ambulance, and emergency services at Syria's Health Ministry, informed the state-run SANA news agency that the reported toll was preliminary. He confirmed that the explosion occurred within the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque and mentioned that emergency teams promptly transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Security and medical teams cordoned off the area as investigations commenced, and authorities have implemented tighter security measures in the vicinity.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, also reported the incident, indicating that the nature of the explosion—whether it was a suicide attack—remains unclear.