UN Security Council condemns Istanbul attack

NEW YORK (AA) - The UN Security Council on Thursday issued a statement denouncing the terror attack in Istanbul that killed 44 victims and injured more than 200 others.

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack at the Ataturk International Airport," according to the statement.

Council members "expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Turkey and they wished speedy and full recovery to those who were injured," it added.

It urged international actors to cooperate with Turkey to help bring the perpetrators to justice and combat the scourge of terrorism, saying, "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

Earlier Thursday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to Turkey's permanent mission to the global body in New York.