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| Brussels police arrest six over 'New Year terror plot' | Brussels police arrest six over 'New Year terror plot' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police in Brussels have arrested six people in connection with an alleged plot to target the city on New Year's Eve, prosecutors say. | Police in Brussels have arrested six people in connection with an alleged plot to target the city on New Year's Eve, prosecutors say. |
| The arrests come as cities around the world heighten security measures ahead of large-scale New Year celebrations. | The arrests come as cities around the world heighten security measures ahead of large-scale New Year celebrations. |
| The arrests in Brussels were made during raids in suburbs including Molenbeek, which was used as a base by the 13 November Paris attackers. | The arrests in Brussels were made during raids in suburbs including Molenbeek, which was used as a base by the 13 November Paris attackers. |
| The city's main fireworks display has been cancelled over the feared plot. | The city's main fireworks display has been cancelled over the feared plot. |
| None of the six people arrested on Thursday has been identified. | None of the six people arrested on Thursday has been identified. |
| Arrests in Brussels over 'terror plot' | |
| Two people arrested in Brussels earlier this week, named as 30-year-old Said S and 27-year-old Mohammed K, have been charged with threatening to carry out a terrorist attack. | Two people arrested in Brussels earlier this week, named as 30-year-old Said S and 27-year-old Mohammed K, have been charged with threatening to carry out a terrorist attack. |
| Brussels police say the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations are not related to the network behind the Paris attacks. | Brussels police say the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations are not related to the network behind the Paris attacks. |
| Extra measures | Extra measures |
| 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 Brussels and extra measures are being put in place in other cities, including Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow. | New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in Brussels and 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Tight security 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Will tightened security affect your New Year plans? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |