VOA慢速英语2016 奥兰多枪击案凶手妻子或知晓袭击计划

AS IT IS 2016-06-16 Investigators²: Wife of Orlando Killer³ Knew of Attack Plans 奥兰多枪击案凶手妻子或知晓袭击计划

Investigators in the Orlando mass shooting say the killer’s wife knew about his plans for the attack.

Federal Bureau of Investigation⁴ officials who remain unnamed say the wife of gunman Omar Mateen had some knowledge of her husband’s plans to attack Pulse, a popular gay nightclub.

Mateen was shot dead by police Sunday morning after the attack that left 49 people dead and 53 injured.

One investigator¹ said the wife, Noor Zahi Salman, also went with her husband on a “reconnaissance” mission to the nightclub between June 5 and 9.

Authorities said Salman is cooperating in the investigation and could provide important information about the reasons Mateen might have carried out the attack.

According to a law enforcement official quoted by the New York Times, she was also with her husband when he bought ammunition⁵. Investigators found video footage from a store showing the couple buying ammunition together, CBS News reported.

Authorities say Mateen, 29, legally bought the weapons earlier this month that he used in the massacre⁶, including a semi-automatic assault rifle.

Noor Zahi Salman, 30, was born in the United States to parents who came from Palestine. She was Mateen’s second wife and the mother of the couple’s 3-year-old son.

At a press briefing Wednesday, FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper confirmed that Salman had been interviewed as part of the investigation. But he did not comment about whether she had prior knowledge of the attack.

“With respect to the wife, I can tell you that is only one of many interviews that we have done and will continue to do in this investigation,” Hopper said.

Salman could face charges if it is found that she did not notify authorities of any prior plans for the attack. But U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said Wednesday it is too early to speculate on any charges that might be brought.

Law enforcement officials are telling U.S. news outlets⁷ that Salman warned her husband not to carry out the attack as he left home for Orlando on Saturday night.

FBI Agent Hopper said the investigation of the shooting is large and complex. He asked the public to contact the agency with any details about the shooting or any information related to the killer.

In Orlando, officials opened an assistance center to offer families of victims grief counseling, funeral support and free legal services.

On Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama will travel to Orlando to pay his respects to victims of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama would meet with families affected⁸ by the tragedy, as well as with first responders, doctors and nurses who treated the wounded.

Words in This Story

reconnaissance – n. a military activity in which soldiers find out information enemy forces?

speculate – n. to make a guess about something ?

counseling – n. assistance and guidance given to someone to help them deal with problems

first responders – n. people designated to respond quickly to emergency situations

1 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

2 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

4 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。

5 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

6 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

7 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。