Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Killings in Charleston, South Carolina

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the apparently racially motivated killing of nine people in a historic African-American church in the United States city of Charleston on 17 June.  He extends his deep condolences to the loved ones of the victims and his solidarity to the survivors.  He hopes the person or persons responsible for this hateful act of violence will be swiftly brought to justice.