VOA慢速英语2016--沙特清真寺发生致命袭击案

AS IT IS 2016-01-30 Chaos¹ at Deadly Attack on Saudi Mosque² 沙特清真寺发生致命袭击案

Muslim worshippers ran in panic after attackers set off bombs and fired shots in a mosque in Saudi Arabia.

Five died and 18 others were wounded. Attackers wore suicide belts and carried assault rifles into a Shi'ite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayer services.

It was at least the fifth such attack in under a year.

Amateur video showed worshipers inside the Imam Reda Mosque as a bomb explodes. The explosion broke windows, doors and ceiling tiles. Men were heard shouting religious slogans. The lights went out and gunshots were heard.

Eyewitness³ Mohammed al Ahmed told Saudi TV that worshipers inside the mosque blocked its doors after the attack began. But one terrorist entered after the blast.

Several minutes after worshipers locked the doors, an explosion went off, he said. The lights went off and smoke filled the room. A man with an assault rifle took shots, but was wrestled⁴ to the ground and disarmed⁵ after he was hit with a chair.

Security forces exchanged fire with the attackers outside the building.

Al Arabiya TV reported that security forces arrested two men. Other media reported that one man was arrested and a second blew himself up.

At least four other such attacks on Shi'ite mosques⁶ have taken place inside Saudi Arabia during the past year. Saudi TV reported that security forces have been able to prevent more than a half dozen other attacks.

Middle East analyst⁷ Theodore Karasik told VOA that the attack Friday “is reminiscent of previous Islamic State attacks targeting Shi'ites.” He said that IS has been calling for more attacks in recent weeks. This “may be the start of a new wave” in Saudi Arabia.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

Words in This Story

panic – n. a feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally

assault rifle – n. a gun that can shoot many bullets rapidly and is designed for the military

amateur – n. a person who does something (such as a sport or hobby) that is not part of their job

slogan – n. a word or phrase that is easily remembered that is used by a group or business to gain attention

reminiscent – adj. something that reminds a person of some memory, fact or incident

1 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 eyewitness   

n.目击者，见证人

参考例句：

• The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。
• He was the only eyewitness of the robbery.他是那起抢劫案的唯一目击者。

4 wrestled   

v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤

参考例句：

• As a boy he had boxed and wrestled. 他小的时候又是打拳又是摔跤。
• Armed guards wrestled with the intruder. 武装警卫和闯入者扭打起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。