UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday unequivocally condemned the deadly terrorist attack on a mosque in Homs, Syria, his spokesperson said in a statement.

The attack occurred during Friday prayers at the Ali Bin Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs, according to the statement issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres reiterated that attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable, stressing that those responsible must be identified and brought to justice, the statement said.

"The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of those killed and expresses his sympathy to all those injured, wishing them a prompt and full recovery," it added.

The death toll from the explosion that struck the mosque has risen to eight, Syria's health authorities said Friday. ■