International community condemns Jerusalem bombing

International community condemns Jerusalem bombing

2011-03-24 00:33:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM (BNO NEWS) -- The international community has strongly condemned a bomb attack in Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon that killed one person and injured 50 others.

According to police an explosive device inside a bag was left at a bus stop opposite the Jerusalem Conference Center in central Jerusalem, which then exploded. This was the first terrorist attack in four years that involved an explosion, the Jerusalem Post reported.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the act, saying that such attacks "are not acceptable." According to a UN spokesman, he also called for an immediate cessation of acts of terrorism and violence against civilians.

US President Barack Obama also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the family of the victims.

"There is never any possible justification for terrorism. The United States calls on the groups responsible to end these attacks at once and we underscore that Israel, like all nations, has a right to self-defense," Obama said in a statement.  

The president also expressed condolences for the deaths of four Palestinian civilians in Gaza yesterday.

"We stress the importance of calm and urge all parties to do everything in their power to prevent further violence and civilian casualties," Obama added.

Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the news of the attack was "shocking and deeply distressing."

"This appears to have been a callous and disgusting act of terrorism directed against innocent civilians which I condemn unreservedly. I would like to express the UK's unwavering support for the people of Israel in the face of such horrific acts," Hague said in a statement.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat called the incident a "cowardly terrorist attack" and called on citizens to return to their regular routines as soon as possible.

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