in VOA Special English.A deadly car bombingat the United Nations buildingin Abuja has brought more attentionto an Islamic group.The attack happened Friday morningin the Nigerian capital.Later, a man claimingto represent Boko Haramspoke by telephonewith a VOA reporter.He said the group carried outthe attack and warned that"this is just the beginning."The spokesman said the bombingwas in reaction to the Nigerianmilitary's increased presencein the northeastern state of Borno.Boko Haram is active there.The government sent more troopsafter an increase in suspectedBoko Haram shootings and bombings.In the Hausa language,the group's name means"western education is a sin."Boko Haram wants Islamic lawor sharia to be establishedmore widely across Africa'smost populous nation.Western security officials sayBoko Haram may have tiesto the north African group knownas al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.Boko Haram launched a violent uprisingin July of two thousand nine.Nigeria's military crushed that unrest.Since then, Boko Haramhas attacked police, politiciansand community leaders.The group claimed responsibilityfor a major attack on Abuja'spolice headquarters in June.Former VOA reporter Josephine Kamaraand her husband workat the UN building in Abuja.She had driven him to work shortlybefore the explosion.Her husband is safe.She described the destructionto VOA's Joe DeCapua.JOSEPHINE KAMARA: "Right now,90]Joe and I see the front partof the main UN building.There are shattered windows.Hardly any of the windowsare left standing.This building is about three floors,plus the ground floor,making it four floors.All the way up to the top floor,there's shattered windows,there's debris.There are mangos,iron rods all over the place.And I see a lot of the UN staffers'family members are standing out here.Also, it looks like the entireAbuja police force has actuallycome to the UN building,standing here,trying to get casualties out.Those that are badly hurt have beentaken to the hospital."In a statement, Nigerian PresidentGoodluck Jonathan called the attack,"barbaric, senseless and cowardly."He said his government remainscommitted to fighting terrorism.President Obama also called ita "horrific and cowardly attack."At UN headquarters in New York,Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moonspoke to the Security Council.BAN KI-MOON: "Around eleven o'clockthis morning local time,the UN housein the Nigeria capital, Abuja,was struck by a car bomb.These buildings house twenty-sixhumanitarian and development agenciesof the UN family.This was an assault on thosewho devote their lives to helping others.We condemn this terrible act utterly."The secretary-general warnedthat UN offices are increasinglyat risk of attackslike the bombing in Abuja.BAN KI-MOON: "Let me say it clearly:these acts of terrorism are unacceptable.They will not deter usfrom our vital work for the peopleof Nigeria and the world.This outrageous and shocking attackis evidence that the UN premisesare increasingly being viewedas soft targets by extremist elementsaround the world."In December of two thousand seven,a bombing at UN officesin the Algerian capital killedseventeen employees.And in August of two thousand three,a suicide bomber struckthe UN headquarters in Baghdad.Twenty-two workers were killed.They included the top UN diplomatin Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello of Brazil.And that's IN THE NEWSin VOA Special English.For the latest news,go to 51voa.com.