near-term
先生から教えて頂いた記事を取り上げます。ベルギーの首都ブリュッセルの空港や地下鉄で起きた爆発事件に関して，ＩＳＩＳが犯行声明を出しました。
Police Search for Man in Surveillance Video Suspected in Brussels Bombings
An ISIS-affiliated website claimed that ISIS "fighters" were responsible for the attacks. A statement on the site says the terror group "carried out a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices" in "the Belgian capital Brussels, a country participating in the international coalition against the Islamic State [ISIS].”
The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning to Americans for all of Europe, citing the threat of “near-term” attacks.
“Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants, and transportation,” the alert said. “U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation.”
No Americans have yet been counted among the dead, but at least nine were injured in Tuesday’s attacks, including three Mormon missionaries, as well as a member of the U.S. Air Force and five of his family members.
今回取り上げる表現は，“the threat of near-term attack”です。ここでのポイントは，“near-term”です。そこで，Dictionary.comを確認してみると，“for, covering, or involving the very near future”と記載されていました。さらに，「英辞郎on the web」には，「目先の，極めて近い将来の」とありました。これから「近い将来のテロ攻撃の恐れ」になり，それが転じて，「差し迫るテロ攻撃の恐れ」といった意味になるのではないでしょうか。(Nao)
