STATEMENT
UN President condemns terrorist killings after a weekend of violence
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 11 December 2016 — The President of the UN General Assembly H.E. Peter Thomson condemns the acts of terrorism experienced across the world this weekend, killing dozens of people and leaving hundreds injured.
“As we approach the end of 2016 and anticipate the traditional peace and joy of the holiday season, I am appalled by this wave of violence and condemn those who seek to pursue their aims through despicable acts of targeting innocent children, women and men,” the President said.
Mr. Thomson expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
He reiterated that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security and said the United Nations stands in solidarity with the people and Governments concerned.
According to news reports, two young girls, detonated explosives in a crowded area near a market in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri on Sunday, killing themselves and one other person and injuring at least 18 others. In another attack on Friday, two female suicide bombers struck at a market in Madagali, Nigeria killing 45 people and wounding dozens.
In Somalia, a suicide car bomber killed at least 29 people and injured around 50 in Mogadishu on Sunday, officials said.
Meanwhile a bomb explosion on Sunday in the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in the Egyptian capital Cairo killed at least 25 people and injured dozens, reports said. Many of the victims are thought to be women and children. On Friday in Cairo, a bomb blast killed six policemen and injured three others, according to the country’s state-run news service.
In southern Yemen on Saturday, a suicide bomber killed at least 45 soldiers and wounded 50 at an army base, officials said.
On Saturday, in Istanbul, Turkey, 39 people were killed and 155 injured in terrorist attacks.