Global terror attacks have cast a pall over
2016 but Australia was on Saturday set to
defy the threats and ring in the New Year
with bumper crowds gathering to watch a
firework extravaganza on Sydney's
glittering harbour.
2016 has seen repeated bloodshed, most recently
a deadly truck attack at a Berlin Christmas
market, a similar incident on Bastille Day in
France that killed 86, and atrocities in Turkey
and the Middle East.
Some 1.5 million people are packing Australia's
biggest city to watch the midnight fireworks, a
larger-than-usual crowd due to the weekend
timing and warm weather, as the New South
Wales state premier urged "business as usual".
"My encouragement to everyone is to enjoy New
Year's Eve... in the knowledge that police are
doing everything they can to keep us safe,"
Premier Mike Baird said.
Some 2,000 extra officers have been deployed
after a man was arrested for allegedly making
online threats against the celebrations.
There were a number of other reported threats
this holiday period, in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere.
In Melbourne, police foiled a "significant" Islamic
State-inspired Christmas Day terror plot.
Indonesia said it foiled plans by an IS-linked
group for a Christmas-time suicide bombing, and
52 died in the Philippines in bomb attacks
blamed on Islamist militants.
Israel on Friday issued a warning of imminent
"terrorist attacks" to tourists and western
targets in India, telling its citizens to avoid public
places.
Meanwhile in Japan, shoppers filled markets to
buy tuna and crabs -- seen as expensive items
of indulgence and special feasts -- for New
Year's Day family gatherings.
Safety measures
Security concerns have hit many New Year
events with truck blockades a new tactic to try
to prevent vehicles ploughing into crowds.
Sydney is using garbage trucks as safety
barriers.
The German capital has beefed up security after
the December 19 carnage, deploying hundreds
more police, some armed with machine-guns.
"This year, what's new is that we will place
concrete blocks and position heavy armoured
vehicles at the entrances" to the zone around
Brandenburg Gate, a police spokesman said.
In Cologne, after a wave of sexual attacks last
year, 1,800 police will be deployed -- compared
to just 140 in 2015.
In neighbouring Austria police will hand out
6,000 free pocket alarms to help stop assaults
on women.
In Paris, there will be a firework display again,
after muted 2015 celebrations following the
November 13 massacre of 130 people.
Nearly 100,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers
will be deployed across France against the
jihadist threat.
With more than a million people expected to turn
out to watch the ball drop in Times Square, New
York is deploying 165 "blocker" trucks and some
7,000 police.
Rome has deployed armoured vehicles and
greater numbers of security forces around the
Coliseum and at St Peter's Square where Pope
Francis will celebrate midnight mass.
Moscow police will deploy more than 5,000
officers backed by thousands more from the new
national guard and volunteer militia to maintain
order.
Thousands traditionally gather in Red Square,
but for the second year in a row, the area will be
open solely to 6,000 invitees.
London will have 3,000 officers on patrol with
crowds flocking to line the banks of the Thames
to watch the fireworks around the London Eye
Ferris wheel.
In Dubai, the gigantic pyrotechnics off the
world's highest skyscraper are going ahead,
despite a major tower block blaze nearby last
year.
Up to two million people are expected to party at
Rio's Copacabana beach.
But with Brazil mired in its worst recession in a
century, the fireworks have been cut to just 12
minutes as the state government fights
bankruptcy.
Normally boisterous Bangkok will see in the new
year on a more sombre note, with prayers and
candles replacing parties as the nation grieves
for King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died in October.
And, at the stroke of midnight, the celebrations
will last one second longer –- a leap second -–
decreed by the International Earth Rotation and
Reference Systems Service to allow astronomical
time to catch up with atomic clocks that have
called the hour since 1967.
Comments