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Crowds gather for New Year celebrations amid high security | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Crowds have begun to gather at New Year's Eve events around the UK amid tightened security following the lorry attacks in Berlin and Nice. | |
Around 110,000 tickets have been sold for the annual fireworks display along the River Thames in London which will mark the start of 2017. | |
Celebrations will also take place at popular city locations across the UK under a more visible police presence. | |
Security has been stepped up following terror attacks in Europe. | |
In London, around 12,000 fireworks producing 50,000 projectiles will light up the city as part of a 12-minute display. | |
Mayor Sadiq Khan said it will be the "best fireworks London's ever seen" and will pay tribute to artists who have died in the past year. | |
He added: "We are going to make sure that we have fireworks where the theme is hope and optimism going forward, but they're going to be brilliant." | |
Mr Khan said the capital would be sending a message to the world that "London is open", particularly post-Brexit, as part of its New Year's Eve celebrations. | |
He added: "We've always been a city open to talent, to people, to ideas and that is not going to change. | |
"One of the great things about the New Year's Eve fireworks is that it showcases our great, great city." | |
Security has been stepped up across the capital, which will see more armed officers being deployed and concrete barriers in use. | |
There are also more places where vehicles are banned. | |
Greater Manchester Police has also increased crowd protection in the wake of the Berlin attack. | |
British Transport Police has "extended" its regular armed patrols across the nation's rail network and there are armed officers on the London Underground. | |
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Phil Langworthy said 3,000 officers would patrol the streets in London. | |
He added: "We will also have some covert tactics. | He added: "We will also have some covert tactics. |
"Overtly there'll be a search regime in place at the fireworks, we will also have concrete barriers and a range of other tactics to reassure the public that they can come and have a safe and enjoyable event." | "Overtly there'll be a search regime in place at the fireworks, we will also have concrete barriers and a range of other tactics to reassure the public that they can come and have a safe and enjoyable event." |
Around 75,000 people are expected to attend Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party for its sold-out New Year's Eve celebration. | |
Police Scotland said there would be a "very visible police presence" at the event. | |
Divisional commander Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald said: "I'm confident we have an appropriate and proportionate policing plan in place to make sure we deliver a safe and secure event." | |
The Police Federation confirmed that there would be more areas in London where vehicles will be banned as a result of the recent attacks in Nice and Berlin. | |
On 20 December a lorry, driven by Anis Amri, ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48. | On 20 December a lorry, driven by Anis Amri, ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48. |
In Nice in July, 86 people died during Bastille Day celebrations when a lorry drove into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais. | In Nice in July, 86 people died during Bastille Day celebrations when a lorry drove into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais. |