WASHINGTON

The UN Security Council strongly condemned on Wednesday the "heinous and cowardly" terror attack in Russia’s Dagestan region.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," it said in a statement.

The statement came after a series of attacks Sunday hit churches and synagogues in the mainly Muslim region of Dagestan, killing at least 21 victims, including 16 police officers.

The Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of the "reprehensible acts" of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

Council members urged all states to cooperate with Russia and reiterated that any acts of terrorism are "criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

"They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts," it added.