UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday condemned an attack on a market in northwest China, which has left at least 31 dead and 94 others injured, saying that "there is no justification for the killing of civilians."

"The secretary-general condemns the attack today on civilians at an open market in Xinjiang, China," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

"He expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and to the people and government of China and wishes those wounded a quick recovery," the statement said.

"The secretary-general stresses that there is no justification for the killing of civilians and hopes that those responsible will be brought to justice," it added.

Local Chinese authorities said two vehicles without license plates drove through roadside fences and plowed into people at an open street market in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at 7:50 a.m. local time and set off explosive devices.