Global terror attacks have cast a pall over New Year celebrations but Sydney was Saturday set to defy the threats and ring in 2017 with a firework extravaganza on the 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.
But New South Wales state premier Mike Baird urged “business as usual” in Australia´s biggest city where 1.5 million people are expected to watch the midnight fireworks.
“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,” Baird said.
Some 2,000 extra officers will be deployed following the arrest of a man for allegedly making threats against Sydney´s big show in an online blog.
There have been a number of other reported threats this holiday period, in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere.
In Melbourne, police foiled a “significant” Daesh-inspired terror plot planned for Christmas Day targeting the city with explosives.
Indonesia also said it foiled plans by Daesh-linked group for a Christmas-time suicide bombing, and 52 died in the Philippines in bomb attacks blamed on militants over the holidays.
Israel on Friday issued a warning of imminent “terrorist attacks” to tourists and western targets in India, telling its citizens to avoid public places.
– 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 — which emit a shrill noise when activated — to help stop assaults on women.
In Paris, there will be a firework display again this year, after muted 2015 celebrations in the aftermath of the November 13 massacre of 130 people.
Nearly 100,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers will be deployed across France against the militant 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 men.
Rome has deployed armoured vehicles and greater numbers of security forces around the Coliseum and at St Peter´s Square where the Pope will give midnight mass.
Moscow police will deploy more than 5,000 officers backed by 8,000 members of the new national guard and 2,000 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. (AFP)
