2007年VOA标准英语-British Court Finds 4 Muslim Extremists Guilty

By Sonja Pace
London
09 July 2007

A British court has handed guilty verdicts for four men in plotting to bomb London's transport system in July 2005. Jury deliberations continue for two others implicated¹ in the plot. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London the verdicts come amid stinging criticism of Britain's anti-terror efforts.

Monday's guilty verdicts stem from charges against six men accused of attempting to set off homemade bombs on several subway trains and a bus in London on July 21, 2005. The devices failed to explode and no one was injured in the attempted attacks. All six are Muslims of African origin.

The failed bombings came just two weeks after coordinated² suicide attacks on London's transport system on July 7, 2005, which killed 52 commuters.

British police are now investigating recent bomb attempts. Explosive devices were defused in two abandoned cars found in central London on June 29. A day later two men rammed³ their four-wheel drive vehicle into the main airport terminal in Glasgow, Scotland, causing a fire.

Eight suspects are in custody⁴, most of them worked for Britain's national health service and come from countries in the Middle East or from India.

But, at the same time British anti-terror efforts have come under criticism from the international police agency, Interpol. Interpol chief, Ronald Noble, says Britain is out of step with the international norm.

"The U.K.'s anti-terrorist effort is in the wrong century, is not aware of what we are able to do today, globally and they should do more," he said. We [Interpol] do not have one metropolitan⁵ police officer from their [British] anti-terrorism unit assigned o Interpol - not one."

Speaking on British television, Noble said Britain, like most countries, has not taken full advantage of an Interpol database to track seven million lost or stolen passports, which he says could help track suspected terrorists.

Noble also criticized Britain for not sharing with Interpol information on the three recent car bombs in London and Glasgow.

British officials say they are working closely with Interpol and member states and they cite international cooperation into the car-bomb investigation⁶.

1 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 rammed   

v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• Two passengers were injured when their taxi was rammed from behind by a bus. 公共汽车从后面撞来，出租车上的两位乘客受了伤。
• I rammed down the earth around the newly-planted tree. 我将新栽的树周围的土捣硬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

5 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。