Guterres voices deep shock over deadly attack on Mormon Church in Michigan
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN head Antonio Guterres on Monday has expressed the shock at the killing of 4 people in suburban Michigan over the weekend after an attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house.
According to media reports, the motive for the assault in which the church was burnt to the ground while the lone gunman was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police has yet to be determined.
Media said that dozens of people have been questioned as the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to work on the case which officials described as an “act of targeted violence.”
Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke at a press conference asked for the “temperature of the rhetoric” to be lowered surrounding the case.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said Mr. António Guterres “strongly condemns the attack and offers condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and the people of Grand Blanc Township.”
UN official on inter religious faith Ángel Moratinos, said he was alarmed “by the heinous attack.”
High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, in a statement said that houses of worship are sacred sanctuaries where people find peace.
He reiterated that “such acts of hatred and violence are utterly rejected and are unjustifiable under any circumstances.”
Mr. Moratinos stressed the urgent need to protect all religious sites and communities, regardless of faith or denomination.
