Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned terrorist attacks against worshipers in three churches in Indonesia`s second-largest city, Surabaya, East Java Province.

"The secretary-general condemns the terrorist attacks on worshipers in three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia, on May 13. He is appalled at the reports that children were used to carry out the attacks," the UN noted in a statement on Monday.

The secretary-general expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured.

Guterres reiterated the support of the UN to the Government and people of Indonesia in their efforts to fight and prevent terrorism and violent extremism, including through the promotion of pluralism, moderation, and tolerance, according to a statement on the UN official website on Monday.

Multiple attacks on three churches in Surabaya on Sunday left at least 13 people dead and 43 others wounded.

Spokesperson of the East Java Police Senior Commissioner Frans Barung Mangera revealed that the bombs were detonated in Santa Maria Church at 7:30 a.m. local time, while two other bombs in GKI and Pantekosta Churches at 7:35 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time respectively.

Earlier, on Sunday, the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the criminal terror acts targeting the Sunday Mass congregations in three churches in Surabaya.

OIC Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen remarked in a statement on Sunday that the OIC reaffirms its principled position that violence and terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group.

Violent extremism and terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including violence against civilians and suicide attacks, are against the holy principles of Islam and affront to the religious diversity of Indonesian society, the OIC stated.

The secretary general further expressed solidarity of the OIC with the people of Indonesia, offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this vicious act, and wished for the quick recovery of the wounded.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) paid a visit to the sites of the church bomb attacks in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday.

Jokowi also visited the wounded victims of the bomb blasts in three churches in Surabaya, East Java, who were being treated at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya.

The president visited the treated victims in the company of several officials, including National Police Chief Tito Karnavian, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Head of the National Intelligence Agency Budi Gunawan, and Indonesian Defense Forces Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

The president made the visit after reviewing two bombing sites: GKI church on Jalan Diponegoro Surabaya and Central Pentecost Church Surabaya on Jalan Arjuna.

Reporter: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
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