VOA标准英语2009年-Britain Confirms Alleged Airline Bombe

Alleged¹ bomber² was denied entry into Britain; but his name apparently³ did not come up on computer screens

Tom Rivers | London 28 December 2009

The British government has confirmed that the young Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight on Christmas Day was refused entry into Britain earlier this year and his name was added to a so-called watch list. 

Somehow, somewhere, security officials did not pick up on the information at their disposal that allowed an individual on a security watch list onto a plane bound for the U.S. from Europe with a valid⁴ entry visa.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's name should have come up on a computer screen.  Apparently, this did not happen and now the Obama administration has ordered investigations⁵ into how travelers are placed on these lists and how that information is then handled and distributed.

Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian who had studied mechanical engineering at University College London between 2005 and 2008, was refused a visa to reenter Britain in May.

British official refuse to say on what grounds this was done, but media reports suggest his application to study at another institution was turned down because the course work there was deemed to be bogus.

Britain's top law and order chief, Home Office Minister Alan Johnson says the correct procedures were followed in this case.

"As soon as someone is refused a visa, they go on our watch list in case they try to enter without a visa or on a false visa.  And the fact that all of our visas are fingerprint⁶, bio-metric fingerprints⁷ based on ensuring that that person's identity is proven is a very important factor in this," he said.

That information should have been passed on to U.S. databases, but it is unclear if that actually happened.

Also, the effectiveness of such watch lists is being called into question, as the man charged with trying to bring down flight 253 on Christmas Day was not on the U.S. 'no fly' list.

Despite billions being spent on aviation security since 911, security was breached⁸ on Christmas Day as the trans-Atlantic flight from Amsterdam approached Detroit.

As in other cases during the past few years, average travelers are now the ones paying the price by spending even more time in international airport terminals and undergoing increased screening, while security officials attempt to figure out just went wrong and who was responsible.

 

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

3 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。

4 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

5 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

6 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

7 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。