United Nations, March 16 (IANS) The UN Security Council has condemned "in the strongest terms" the terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed 49 people.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the New Zealand government. They wished a speedy and full recovery to those injured, said the council in a press statement on Friday, Xinhua reported.

The UNSC members underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the government of New Zealand and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

They reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and stressed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Gunmen opened fire in two separate mosques in Christchurch on Friday, killing 49 people and wounding 48 others.