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European capitals tighten security ahead of New Year celebrations | European capitals tighten security ahead of New Year celebrations |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Security is being stepped up in major European cities ahead of New Year celebrations, with officials wary of possible terror plots. | Security is being stepped up in major European cities ahead of New Year celebrations, with officials wary of possible terror plots. |
New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in the Belgian capital Brussels because of an alert. | New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in the Belgian capital Brussels because of an alert. |
Extra measures are being put in place in other cities, including Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow. | |
Meanwhile in Turkey, security services say they have thwarted a major plot to attack celebrations in Ankara. | Meanwhile in Turkey, security services say they have thwarted a major plot to attack celebrations in Ankara. |
Earlier this week, Austrian police claimed a "friendly intelligence service" had tipped them off that major European capitals were at risk of being attacked over the holiday period. | Earlier this week, Austrian police claimed a "friendly intelligence service" had tipped them off that major European capitals were at risk of being attacked over the holiday period. |
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the Brussels decision had been taken "given information we have received". | Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the Brussels decision had been taken "given information we have received". |
Last year 100,000 people turned out in Brussels to welcome in the New Year. "In these circumstances, we can't check everyone," Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur said. | |
Brussels was put on a far-reaching lockdown in November in the wake of the Paris attacks, as police hunted suspects linked to the city. | |
An escalation of the perceived terror threat to the maximum level four led to the metro network being suspended and a curfew imposed for four days. | |
Belgium remains on high alert but the threat level has been downgraded to three. Restrictions in place over the New Year relate to specific events and celebrations. | |
Police say the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations are not related to the network behind the Paris attacks. | |
Earlier in the week, pBelgian police arrested two people suspected of planning attacks during the festive season and seized propaganda for so-called Islamic State (IS) as well as military clothing and computer equipment. | |
Another arrest was made on Thursday, police said, during a raid in the outskirts of Belgium. It is the 10th arrest in connection with the attacks in Paris. | |
Tight security in 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. | |
Projections on the Arc de Triomphe will be shorter than normal and four giant screens will be placed at intervals to avoid creating tightly packed crowds. | |
Arrests in Ankara | |
On Wednesday, Turkish police arrested two suspected IS members over an alleged plot to attack celebrations in Ankara. | On Wednesday, Turkish police arrested two suspected IS members over an alleged plot to attack celebrations in Ankara. |
State media said they were planning two separate attacks on crowded areas. Suicide vests and explosives were found during police raids. | |
Security will also be stepped up in Istanbul, with local media reports saying that some officers will be wearing Father Christmas outfits and other disguises to patrol crowds undetected. | Security will also be stepped up in Istanbul, with local media reports saying that some officers will be wearing Father Christmas outfits and other disguises to patrol crowds undetected. |
Red Square closed | Red Square closed |
Security is also being tightened in cities where the authorities say there is no specific intelligence about a possible attack. | Security is also being tightened in cities where the authorities say there is no specific intelligence about a possible attack. |
Authorities in Moscow will completely close off Red Square, where crowds normally count down to midnight. | Authorities in Moscow will completely close off Red Square, where crowds normally count down to midnight. |
Berlin bag ban | |
In Berlin, backpacks and fireworks will be prohibited and bags searched on the "fan mile" in front of the Brandenburg Gate, which has reportedly been closed off since Christmas. | In Berlin, backpacks and fireworks will be prohibited and bags searched on the "fan mile" in front of the Brandenburg Gate, which has reportedly been closed off since Christmas. |
Up to a million people are expected to attend the celebration. | Up to a million people are expected to attend the celebration. |
Berlin's interior minister Frank Henkel encouraged party-goers to not allow fear to sour their celebratory mood. "Caution is a good counsellor, fear is not," he told broadcaster RBB. | |
Precautions in London | |
London's Metropolitan Police will deploy 3,000 officers in the inner city, including extra armed officers. | London's Metropolitan Police will deploy 3,000 officers in the inner city, including extra armed officers. |
More than 100,000 people are expected to watch the Mayor of London's fireworks show, a ticketed event. | More than 100,000 people are expected to watch the Mayor of London's fireworks show, a ticketed event. |
"Our plans are purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence," said a spokesperson. | "Our plans are purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence," said a spokesperson. |
Asia drills | |
Australian officials assured revellers that thousands of extra police would patrol major cities, but urged residents to celebrate. "Don't change your way of life," said Melbourne's Lord Mayor Robert Doyle. | |
The US embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, warned its citizens of "possible attacks" against hotels and clubs in the city in connection with New Year's Eve celebrations. | |
And a number of other cities around the world have been put on high alert or called up additional police officers, including Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, where police and anti-terror squads have conducted mock terror drills this week. | |
Will tightened security affect your New Year plans? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
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