New Year Celebrations: Security beefed up around the world

Major cities around the world have heighten security measures at New Year celebrations, with authorities wary of possible terror attacks. Security is also being tightened in cities where the authorities say there is no specific intelligence about a possible attack. In Brussels, Belgium’s capital, the annual New Year’s Eve celebration was cancelled due to fears […]

Major cities around the world have heighten security measures at New Year celebrations, with authorities wary of possible terror attacks. Security is also being tightened in cities where the authorities say there is no specific intelligence about a possible attack.
In Brussels, Belgium’s capital, the annual New Year’s Eve celebration was cancelled due to fears of terrorism. Brussels Mayor, Yvan Mayeur, said crisis analysts determined it would not be possible to adequately screen tens of thousands of people viewing a fireworks show. Police on Wednesday arrested six people in connection with an alleged plot to target the city on New Year’s Eve. Paris, the French capital, has cancelled its main New Year fireworks display but the traditional gathering on the Champs-Elysees will take place amid tight security.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, in a comment to the French weekly Journal du Dimanche, said that France needs its symbolic passage into the New Year to “send a signal to the world” as it continues recovering from the attacks.
Authorities in Moscow completely closed off Red Square, where crowds normally countdown to midnight. London’s Metropolitan Police was reported to have deployed 3,000 officers in the inner city, including extra armed officers.
In Turkey, authorities detained two suspected Islamic State members Wednesday who were believed to be planning New Year’s suicide attacks on crowds celebrating in Ankara.
Thousands of police officers, in New York City, have been deployed for traditional New Year’s celebrations in Times Square, which draws more than a million people.
In Berlin, backpacks and fireworks have been banned in major celebration centres across the cities, Berlin’s interior minister Frank Henkel said. He encouraged party-goers to not allow fear to sour their celebratory mood.
Indonesia is on high alert after police uncovered plans for a terror attack on the capital during the festivities. About 150,000 police officers and soldiers have been deployed to safeguard churches, airports and other public places.
Extra security measures were being put in place in other cities, including Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, where police and anti-terror squads have conducted mock terror drills this week.