美國稱曾挫敗基地組織炸燬民航機陰謀

U.S. officials say they have stopped an al-Qaida bomb plot intended to destroy an airliner heading for the United States.

美國官員說，他們挫敗了基地組織意圖炸燬一架飛往美國的民航飛機的陰謀。

Authorities in Washington say the al-Qaida branch in Yemen intended to put a suicide bomber aboard a U.S.-bound jet with explosives concealed in the attacker's underwear.

美國官方在華盛頓說，基地組織設在也門的分支機構，計劃將一名內衣藏有爆炸物的自殺炸彈攻擊者，安排於一架飛往美國的噴氣客機上。

They say the plot was detected and the bomb was seized before any plane was at risk.

官員說，這項陰謀被識破並且在飛機遭到危險之前搜出了爆炸物。

The White House National Security Council said in a statement Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama was first informed about the plot in April and has received regular updates about the situation. It said the president was assured that the device did not pose a threat to the public.

美國白宮國家安全委員會星期一發布的一項聲明說，奧巴馬總統早在四月間，就已經獲知有關這項陰謀的訊息，並且按時接獲有關局勢的後續報告。聲明中說，總統獲得保證，這項爆裂裝置沒有對大衆安全造成威脅。

Addressing reporters Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declined to comment on specific classified operations. However, he said the incident makes clear the United States must remain vigilant against possible attacks.

美國國防部長帕內塔星期一對記者發表講話，拒絕對機密行動發表評論。但他表示，這一事件顯示美國必須對可能發生的襲擊保持警惕。

The Associated Press says the would-be attacker is based in Yemen and the plot was to be carried out around the one-year anniversary of the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

美聯社的一項報道說，這名意圖攻擊的自殺炸彈客的基地在也門，原本計劃於本拉登遭美方突擊人員擊殺後一週年之際，執行這項陰謀。

Officials say the bomb was a redesign of an explosive that was used to try to blow up an airplane bound for Detroit from Amsterdam in 2009.

美方官員說，這枚炸彈，是根據2009年意圖炸燬一架由荷蘭阿姆斯特丹飛往美國底特律市班機的爆裂裝置改裝而成的。