VOA常速英语2008年-Small Explosion Rattles New York's Times Square

By Margaret Besheer
New York
06 March 2008

Authorities in New York City say a small explosive device detonated near a U.S. military recruiting station in the Times Square district of the city.  The blast happened in the very early hours Thursday morning.  From New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

City officials say the small explosion happened shortly before four in the morning local time, causing some damage to a small kiosk used by the U.S. military as a recruiting office, but no injuries. Guests at hotels as far as several blocks away said they could feel the building shake.

At a press conference, City Police Commissioner¹ Raymond Kelly said the device was not sophisticated and was in a small box.  He said one witness reported seeing a man on a bicycle in the area of the explosion shortly before it happened, but the witness did not say that he saw the bicyclist plant, throw or detonate the device.

"He saw an individual riding on a bicycle right here on the island in what he described as a suspicious manner," said Commissioner Kelly.  "This individual was wearing a hood² and dark colored clothing.  He was also carrying a backpack, or wearing a backpack.  He did not see this individual's face and was not able to give us a complete description."

Commissioner Kelly said police are reviewing footage from video cameras from hotels and businesses in the area as part of their investigation³.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg condemned⁴ the perpetrators and said such actions would not affect life in the city.

"Whoever the coward is that committed this disgraceful act on our city will be found and prosecuted⁵ to the full extent of the law," he said.  "We will not tolerate such attacks, nor will we let them destroy our freedom to live peacefully and safely in the greatest city in the world."

Police and fire crews cordoned⁶ off Times Square and diverted subway trains for several hours, but normal traffic resumed by the start of the morning rush hour.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 hood   

n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖

参考例句：

• She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
• The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

3 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。

4 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。

5 prosecuted   

a.被起诉的

参考例句：

• The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity. 编辑因刊载污秽文字而被起诉。
• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。

6 cordoned   

v.封锁，用警戒线围住( cordon的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the area until the bomb was defused. 警方封锁了这个地区直到炸弹被拆除为止。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。 来自《简明英汉词典》