USA: Many cities tighten security at locations to celebrate New Year 2024 0
(Dan Tri) – Many major cities in the US have implemented measures to enhance security, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and a number of agencies warned of potential threats during the holidays.
Security is tightened at Times Square in New York, USA before the New Year 2024 (Photo: AP).
Americans and tourists planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve in person in Times Square will witness strict security measures in the hours before and after the bells ring in the New Year 2024, New York state governor
The New York State Police Force will increase manpower, while the State’s National Guard and other agencies will step up patrols around the area where the crystal ball dropping ceremony will take place in Times Square.
In Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather to celebrate the New Year, police said they were beefing up security by mobilizing a bomb squad as well as using low-altitude helicopter flights.
Meanwhile, New York Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city has not recorded any threats, but everyone is acting `extremely cautiously` and taking response measures, and affirmed that people have
`Protecting events, of all sizes, is something we do better than any other city in the country. However, out of an abundance of caution, you will see a large security presence on the ground
Police in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, will mobilize forces in key areas where the New Year celebration takes place, including the First Night Boston event.
Las Vegas city police also made a similar move to ensure security for nearly 400,000 people attending New Year’s events.
The move came after the FBI and other federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the US National Counterterrorism Center issued warnings about potential security risks to large crowds celebrating.
Authorities are particularly worried about large-scale crowd violence.
`Lone wolves may seek to disrupt or escalate violence at large gatherings, prominent events, or symbolic or religious sites throughout the winter. These events can
FBI official Robert Kissane emphasized, `we are in an increasingly heightened threat environment` and this has been the case since October 7 when the war between Israel and Hamas began.
`We take all potential threats seriously and will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify information, share information and take appropriate investigative action,`
Europe also tightened security
Safety concerns also spread outside the United States, causing countries to increase security on New Year’s Eve.
France’s domestic intelligence director, Celine Berthon, said the country deployed 90,000 law enforcement officers on New Year’s Eve, including 6,000 in Paris, where more than 1.5 million people attended the celebration.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a news conference that there was a `very high terrorist threat` because in part because of `what is happening in Israel and Palestine,` referring to the Israel-Hamas war.
He said for the first time police will be able to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of security work.
Germany also deployed the largest number of police in decades, amid the risk that riots could flare up again like at the end of 2022. In particular, the streets of the German capital last night witnessed a number of police officers.
