VOA标准英语2008年-Gunmen Attack Police Checkpoint Outside US Cons

Authorities in Istanbul say six people were killed in an attack on a police checkpoint protecting the U.S. Consulate¹. From Istanbul, Dorian Jones reports for VOA several other people were wounded, but no Americans were hurt in what is described as a terrorist attack.
　
Turkish policeman stands guard next to ambulance outside of US Consulate after attack in Istanbul, 09 Jul 2008

Before midday, four gunmen attacked a police checkpoint protecting the entrance of the Istanbul U.S. Consulate.

According to eyewitnesses² the gunmen drove up to the checkpoint in a white car and opened fire with pistols. The ensuing gun battle lasted several minutes.

Istanbul chief prosecutor³ Ayhurt Cengiz Engin spoke⁴ at the scene.

He says three policemen were martyred and three terrorists attackers were also killed. He said unfortunately one of the attackers managed to escape.

Istanbul security forces supported by helicopters are engaged in a manhunt for the surviving assailant.

Turkish TV broadcast graphic⁵ images of three dead bodies believed to be the attackers outside the entrance to the consulate. Turkish reports say a number of other people were injured.

The press spokeswoman for the U.S. embassy said none of its staff was injured. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson, speaking in Ankara, condemned⁶ the shooting as a terrorist attack and said his staff is working closely with Turkish authorities.

"We will be sharing all our information that we have and I assume the Turkish authorities will do likewise. We will do everything we can to assist with the investigation," the ambassador said.

It is still unclear what the motive⁷ for this attack was.

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler, speaking at the scene, said he is determined⁸ to find all those responsible.

He says all efforts are being made by all of our security forces to find all those involved in this terrorist attack.

Turkey is home to numerous illegal groups with strong anti-American agendas, ranging from far-left organizations and Kurdish nationalists to radical⁹ Islamic movements.

But it is still not clear whether the police or the consulate was the target of the attack.

In 2003 a group linked to al-Qaida bombed the British consulate in Istanbul and the local headquarters of a British-based bank, killing¹⁰ scores of people and injuring hundreds more. Following that attack, the U.S. consulate was moved from the center of the city to its present, more secure, location on top of a hill.

　

 

1 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

2 eyewitnesses   

目击者( eyewitness的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The examination of all the eyewitnesses took a week. 对所有证人的质询用了一周的时间。
• Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw the officers hit Miller in the face. 几位目击证人证明他们看见那几个警官打了米勒的脸。

3 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。