UN Chief Condemns Mosque Attack in Syria
Guterres Calls Attack on Place of Worship ‘Unacceptable’; Death Toll Rises to Eight
United Nations, Dec 27: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack on a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, calling it an unacceptable act of violence against civilians and places of worship.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres said the attack took place during Friday prayers at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood of Homs, Xinhua news agency reported.
The UN chief stressed that attacks targeting civilians and religious sites are strictly prohibited under international law and underscored the need to bring those responsible to justice. “The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of those killed and expresses his sympathy to all those injured, wishing them a prompt and full recovery,” the statement said.
Syrian health authorities later confirmed that the death toll has risen to eight following the explosion inside the mosque. Initial reports had put the number of fatalities at five, with at least 21 people injured.
Najib al-Naasan, Director of Referral, Ambulance and Emergency Services at Syria’s Health Ministry, told state-run SANA news agency that the figures remain preliminary. He added that the blast occurred inside the mosque premises and that emergency response teams immediately rushed the injured to nearby hospitals.
Following the incident, security and medical teams cordoned off the area as investigations were launched. Authorities said security measures were tightened in and around the affected neighborhood.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed the blast, noting that it remains unclear whether the explosion was caused by a suicide attack.
