ベルギーテロ 「欧州の首都」標的にした蛮行

The Yomiuri Shimbun
World must review antiterrorism measures as ‘capital of Europe’ attacked
ベルギーテロ　「欧州の首都」標的にした蛮行

The “capital of Europe” has become the site of a despicable terrorist act that indiscriminately targeted civilians. Such acts cannot be tolerated.
　「欧州の首都」を舞台に、市民を無差別に狙った卑劣なテロである。断じて許されない。

The international community must tighten the noose further to contain terrorism.
　国際社会は、テロ封じ込めに向けた包囲網を一段と強化せねばなるまい。

A series of terrorist bombings rocked the international airport and a subway station in the Belgian capital of Brussels, where the European Union is headquartered. More than 30 people were killed and over 200 others were injured in the attacks.
　欧州連合（ＥＵ）本部があるベルギーの首都ブリュッセルの国際空港と地下鉄駅で、爆破テロが相次いで発生した。３０人以上が死亡し、２００人超が負傷した。

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant group, which is based in Syria and Iraq, has claimed responsibility, denouncing Belgium for participating in the anti-ISIL coalition.
　シリアとイラクに拠点を置く過激派組織「イスラム国」は犯行声明を出し、ベルギーが有志連合による対「イスラム国」攻撃に参加していることを理由に挙げた。

The perpetrators include suicide bombers and a man still at large. Belgian authorities have been urged to speed up their investigation to ascertain the whole picture of the attacks.
　犯行グループには、自爆犯のほか、逃亡した者もいる。ベルギー当局は、事件の捜査を急ぎ、犯行の全容を解明してもらいたい。

French President Francois Hollande said, “The whole of Europe has been struck by these attacks in Brussels.” It is vital for the security authorities of EU countries to enhance intelligence-sharing on terrorism-related matters.
　オランド仏大統領は「ブリュッセルへの攻撃は、欧州全体に対するものだ」と指摘した。ＥＵ各国の治安機関によるテロ関連情報の共有を進めることが重要だ。

With districts that are home to many Muslims, Brussels is known as a hotbed of radical Islamists in Europe. Just four days ago, a key surviving perpetrator of last November’s terrorist attacks on Paris was arrested in such a district, where he was hiding.
　ブリュッセルには、イスラム系住民が多数居住する地区があり、欧州のイスラム過激派の温床という一面も持つ。４日前には、昨年１１月のパリ同時テロで生き残った実行犯が、この地区の潜伏先で逮捕されたばかりだった。

An alarming point is the failure to prevent the terrorist attacks at the airport, a key facility under tight security by Belgian authorities.
　深刻なのは、ベルギー当局の厳戒下にあった空港という重要施設でテロを防げなかったことだ。

Vulnerability highlighted

One of the perpetrators reportedly blew himself up near a check-in counter of an airline company before security screening for baggage. This appears to be a blind point for airport security. A review of measures against terrorism is needed.
　犯人は、手荷物検査場の前にある航空会社のチェックインカウンター付近で自爆したという。警備の盲点だったのではないか。テロ対策の再検討が必要だろう。

A blast in a subway car took place at a station near the EU headquarters. Some observers speculate that the militant group carried out this outrage of mass killing, which has once again shaken Europe, in revenge for the arrest of the Paris attacks’ mastermind.
　地下鉄の車両の爆発は、ＥＵ本部に近い駅で起きた。犯行グループがパリ同時テロ犯の逮捕に反発し、大量殺人で欧州を再び揺さぶる暴挙に出たとの見方もある。

To help suppress terrorist groups, the United States and European countries are being urged to bring an end to the Syrian civil war, which has allowed the rise of ISIL.
　米欧や中東諸国には、「イスラム国」の台頭を許したシリア内戦を収束させ、テロ組織を掃討するさらなる努力が求められよう。

Japanese nationals were also involved in the bombing on the Brussels subway. One suffered serious injury while another was slightly hurt. About 220 Japanese companies have made inroads into Belgium, and about 5,400 Japanese nationals live in the country.
　地下鉄爆破には日本人も巻き込まれ、１人が重傷、１人が軽傷を負った。ベルギーには、日本企業約２２０社が進出し、在留邦人も約５４００人に上る。

As many Japanese expatriates now work overseas, terrorism by radical Islamists is not someone else’s problem for Japan.
　多数の邦人が海外で活動する今日、イスラム過激派のテロは日本にとっても、他人事ではない。

It is natural that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strongly condemned the attacks in Brussels, saying, “We must work together with the international community in responding [to the attacks].”
　安倍首相が今回の事件を強く非難し、「国際社会と連携して対応しなければならない」と述べたのは当然である。

Participants at the Ise-Shima Group of Seven summit meeting to be held in May face the task of working out specific antiterrorism measures, such as ways to cut off terrorist funding. The government should make every possible effort to review airport security and take other steps to prevent terrorist attacks.
　５月に開かれる主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）では、テロ資金源の遮断などの具体策を打ち出すことが課題となる。政府は、空港警備の再点検など、テロ阻止に万全を期すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24, 2016)