06 October,2009 01:19 PM IST | | IANS
Stating that it "was utterly unacceptable" that a UN agency had been made a terror target, the European Union has asked Pakistan to swiftly apprehend those behind the suicide bombing at the World Food Programme (WFP) office in Islamabad.
Strongly condemning the suicide bombing of the WFP headquarters in the Pakistani capital Tuesday, an EU presidency statement called on the government of Pakistan to take all necessary steps to "swiftly apprehend the culprits behind this heinous crime and bring them to justice," EuAsiaNews reported.
Sweden holds the current six-month rotating EU presidency.
WFP has provided substantial relief and rehabilitation to the Pakistani people and hence, the statement noted, the EU "finds it utterly unacceptable that a UN agency, whose humanitarian and development work benefits all Pakistanis, is made a target in this way".
Five people, including an Iraqi national, were killed when the suicide bomber detonated himself inside the lobby of the WFP office in an upscale locality of Islamabad.
The UN temporarily suspended its operations following the attack that was condemned by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The explosion caused a major blaze in the WFP office, where about 70 WFP employees were at work.
