UN Security Council "outraged" by deadly terror attack on Kenyan university

The UN Security Council said on Friday that all its 15 members were "outraged" by a deadly terrorist attack on a university in eastern Kenya, reiterating " their determination to combat all forms of terrorism" under the UN Charter. "The members of the Security Council are outraged by the terrorist attack perpetrated by 'al Shabaab' in Garissa, Kenya," the council said in a press statement issued here. .

"They condemned the attack in the strongest terms." Somali militant burst into the university on Thursday and killed 147 students in what was the worst terrorist attack since 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in the country. "The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and government of the Republic of Kenya," the statement said. "They also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack." The council members paid tribute to Kenya’s role in the fight against terrorism, the statement said, adding that they paid particular tribute to Kenya’s role in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in the struggle against Al Shabaab. 'al Shabaab', the Somali terrorist group and one of the most violent franchises of al-Qaida, immediately claimed responsibility for the Thursday attack.   NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- A victim’s relative loses the control of her emotion after identifying the victim’s body that was airlifted from Moi University in Garissa at the Chiromo mortuary in Nairobi. XINHUA PHOTO - SIMBI KUSIMBA

. "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, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever and by whomsoever committed," said the statement. "The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations," it said. "The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Kenyan authorities in this regard," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law," said the statement. The council members underscored their solidarity with the people and government of Kenya at this difficult time, the statement added.