Monday 20 March 2017

New Year's Eve 2017 ruled by fear of terrorism

By Eduard Miheș, Coordinating teacher: Alina Popa, School: Samuil Vulcan National College

Major western cities are tightening security for New Year’s Eve celebrations amid continuing terrorism fears, with authorities particularly concerned about a repeat of this year’s deadly truck attacks in Germany and France.

“Every measure is being taken to prevent a possible attack,” said police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf in Berlin, where concrete blocks and armoured cars will prevent all but carefully controlled pedestrian access to Pariser Platz, the square in front of Brandenburg Gate that is the traditional site for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

A record number of armed police will be patrolling London’s streets and a ring of concrete barriers will be block roads to the city center for New Year’s Eve celebrations following terrorist lorry attacks on the Continent.
The number of armed Scotland Yard officers will be higher than the 2,000 on duty for last year’s festivities and armed transport police will again patrol the London Underground.
Major cities around the world said they were stepping up security for the festivities, with many blocking roads to prevent a repeat of attacks in Nice and Berlin.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “I can assure you that there is a big armed operation over London. There are more armed police this year than there have been ever before. There are far more bollards that have been put in place than ever before.”
In total, 3,800 police officers will be on duty in central London, with thousands more in the rest of the capital.
In Italy, where fears of an attacks were heightened last week by Amri’s killing in the suburbs of Milan, the interior ministry said it had deported a Tunisian national who was “set to strike” Italy.
The prime minister, Paolo Gentiloni, has said there is no evidence the Berlin attacker was part of a terrorist network in Italy, but police have increased their presence at possible targets and tourist areas in Rome, and some trucks and buses are forbidden from entering the city centre.
The US Army said the chances of an attack on American soil are low but “undeniable” and they will deploy 100 “blocker vehicles” and 7,000 police officers in Time Square tonight, where thousands of people will celebrate the New Year.
Armed police will patrol the Tube for the first time ever on New Year’s Eve and thousands of officers will form a protective ring around the firework display in London.


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