UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deep shock at the attack on UN offices in Algiers, which killed 17 staff members. He condemned terrorism as unjustifiable and called for it to be denounced by humanity and the international community. Ban, who was visiting for one day, also expressed his shock at the twin bombings which claimed at least 37 lives in Algiers. This was the second major bombing in the capital of the OPEC member country this year, as it continues to recover from a devastating civil war in the 1990s. "I want to offer my heartfelt sympathies to the government and people of Algeria, as well as to the families of the victims and my colleagues at the United Nations." Ban was reportedly taken in a heavily guarded convoy to the Hydra district, where he surveyed the damage at the UN refugee agency and Development Programme offices. Journalists were not allowed to join him during this visit. The second car bombing on December 11 affected the Constitutional Court building in the Ben Aknoun district. The North African branch of Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that they were targeting individuals they referred to as "the slaves of America and France." Ban met with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and discussed collaboration between Algeria and the United Nations in the fight against terrorism. They also talked about climate change, illegal migration, and the situation in Western Sahara. The UN has confirmed that 14 Algerians, as well as one victim each from Denmark, Senegal, and the Philippines, were among the dead UN employees. Ban condemned the attacks as an assault on those working towards the UN's mission and called for increased security measures at UN offices worldwide, acknowledging the need for additional funding.