Police outside Israeli Embassy in Athens (archive)
Police outside Israeli Embassy in Athens (archive)Reuters

The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Saturday condemned the night-time gun attack on the Israeli embassy in Athens and stressed the need to catch the perpetrators, AFP reports.

In a unanimous statement, the 15-member council "condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack against the Embassy of Israel in Athens, Greece, on 12 December, involving dozens of shots fired at the Embassy building, and underlined the need to bring its perpetrators to justice."

Greek police have said a far-left group was likely responsible for Friday's attack, which saw the building sprayed with gunfire but no one hurt.

The Security Council praised the Greek government's swift investigation and "reaffirmed that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security.

"Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed," it added.

Two Kalashnikovs used in the attack were used in a similar assault on theresidence of the German ambassador last December by the far-left People's Fighter Group, a police source said in Athens on Friday.

Public Order Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who visited the scene, condemned the attack and told the Ana news agency, "No one is going to affect the relations between Greece and Israel."

"Every terrorist attack is an assault on democracy and the country," said government spokeswoman Sophia Voultepsi, who added the Athens was taking "determined steps" against terror groups.

The People's Fighter Group had also fired on the offices of the ruling conservative New Democracy party in January 2013.

Embassies and diplomatic vehicles in Greece have been targeted in attacks by far-left groups in recent years.

The residence of the German ambassador in Athens has been hit twice -- with two assault rifles in 2013 and a rocket attack in 1999. No one was hurt.

In 2007, another rocket was fired at the U.S. embassy in Athens without injuring anyone.

All three attacks were claimed by far-left groups, two of which have since been dismantled by the police, but the People's Fighter Group remains active and its members at large.