UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday condemned "in the strongest terms" Thursday's terrorist attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, which resulted in at least 20 deaths.

In a press statement, the council expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

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

It iterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

It reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

A suicide bomber blew himself up near a police checkpoint in a police district in Kabul Thursday night. The latest report said that at least 20 people, including 16 police officers, were killed and 30 others were wounded.

The Islamic State has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.