A statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson in New York said that the attack, perpetrated on the campus of the Garissa University College, in Garissa, Kenya, reportedly left dozens dead and injured with an unconfirmed number of students held hostage.

The Secretary-General in his statement voiced hope that the situation would be quickly brought under control without further harm to those being held and called for those responsible to be “swiftly brought to justice.”

“The Secretary-General reiterates his solidarity with the people and the Government of Kenya, as well as the continuing support of the United Nations to Kenya and the countries of the region in their efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism,” the statement continued.

In addition, the statement said Ban conveyed his “deeply-felt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded.”

In a separate statement, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova also strongly condemned the incident, and stressed that a time when operations were still ongoing to lift the siege on the University, “this vicious attack against an institution of higher learning is a deliberate attack against the future of a country, against the ambition of students to gain the qualifications to pursue a career and contribute to their nation.”

“It is the quest for knowledge, the freedom to think critically and to question the world– the hallmarks of a university – that is under threat,” said Ms. Bokova, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, and extending her heartfelt condolences to the Government of Kenya, and to the students, faculty and families who have been affected by this tragedy.

UN Photo/Mark Garten (file)