UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Sunday strongly condemned the suicide bombing at a railway station in southern Russia, calling it a "terrorist" act.

"The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist bombing today at a train station in Volgograd, Russian Federation," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.

In the statement, Ban extended "his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims as well as to the government and people of the Russian Federation."

The UN chief also called for the perpetrators of this "heinous act" to be brought to justice.

"He stands in solidarity with the Russian Federation in the face of terrorism," said the statement.

At least 16 people were killed and dozens of others injured when a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a railway station in Volgograd, a city near the volatile North Caucasus region.

The attack was the second of its kind that had rocked Volgograd recently. Two months ago, a female suicide attacker blew herself up on a bus, killing seven and injuring dozens of others.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in September that the situation in the North Caucasus remained a challenge for state security. He called on all law enforcement departments to be mobilized to maintain law, order and peace in the region.