VOA标准英语2010-In Britain, Transport Security Still a Co

In the wake of the subway bombings in Moscow, public transport systems seem vulnerable. London's system is one of the largest and most complex in the world.  Officials in the British capital have long worked to keep the transport system safe, but have not always succeeded.

In July 2005, suicide bombers¹ attacked three London underground trains and a bus killing² 52 people, including themselves.

Two weeks later, four more would-be bombers tried, but failed to attack underground trains. Their bombs did not explode.

Analyst³ Jonathan Wood with the security firm Control Risks in London, says public transport systems are an attractive target.

 

"An attack on a public location, but particularly one that people use in their everyday lives, has a very strong psychological impact and it also tends to generate a lot of media coverage," he said.  "So it draws attention to the terrorists groups and their aims and their goals."

Al-Qaida has already said it's focused on public transport, according to this video featuring an al-Qaida spokesman, the American Adam Gadahn.

GADAHN: "We must keep in mind how even apparently⁴ unsuccessful attacks on Western mass transportation systems can bring major cities to a halt, cost the enemy billions and send his corporations into bankruptcy⁵."

London may be famous for its red double-decker buses, but it is the underground system, parts of it more than a hundred years old, that is especially vulnerable.

The city has more than 10,000 closed circuit security cameras, including in the transportation system.  Software can be added to identify things that are not usually there, like a bag left on a bench.

But analysts⁶ say public transport is hard to police. Telling the difference between a regular commuter⁷ and an attacker is difficult on camera or in person.

Nigel Inkster, a terrorism expert at the International Institute for Security Studies says the 2005 London bombings proved that the city's transport network is vulnerable.

"At least one of the bombers detonated in the deepest part of the underground which made it hugely difficult both to undertake rescue operations and to carry out the forensic⁸ examination of the site which needed to take place," said Inkster.

Authorities here depend on the public to keep an eye out for unusual packages or passengers.

And London's Transport Authority has promoted the Oyster⁹ card, a magnetic payment system that keeps track of where people have been and when. But that is only helpful in surveillance or a post-incident investigation¹⁰.

"I don't think you can look at public transportation in isolation," Inkster added.  "You've got to look at it as part of a comprehensive package of counterterrorism measures."

With London hosting the 2012 Olympics, security is a major concern. New transport links to the Olympic village are being built.

While new stations that minimize bomb damage are feasible, officials say the best defense¹¹ is identifying attackers before they can strike.

 

1 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 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。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

8 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

9 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

10 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。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。