Increases in Security Deter Few New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Despite the increases in terror-related security, New Year’s Eve celebrations went on in U.S. cities and across the globe.
According to the FBI, an ex-convict named Emanuel Lutchman was planning to carry out a New Year's Eve attack at a bar in Rochester, New York. ABC News reports that Lutchman planned on using a machete and knives given to him by an FBI informant. The planned attack was aimed at proving his worth to ISIS.
Arrested on Dec. 30, 2015, Lutchman was charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists. After he was taken into custody, city officials decided to cancel a fireworks show so that officers could concentrate on other areas of the city.
In Las Vegas, security forces were increased, as tourism officials expected 332,000 revelers to pack the streets of the resort city. As The Associated Press reports, despite the throngs of partying people, there were only 10 arrests made by 1:30 a.m local time.
Around a million celebrators gathered at New York's Times Square to meet 2016. A local ABC affiliate reports that security for the traditional countdown event called for 6,000 police officers.
New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton said that, despite the increase in security, there were no special threats to deal with.
"We have no threats we're aware of directed against this event tonight but nevertheless we still plan for the worst and then expect the best," Bratton said.
The threat of terror shadowed New Year's Eve celebrations elsewhere around the globe as well.
In Munich, two major railway stations were evacuated after an intelligence agency warned of an imminent attack. As the BBC reports, the warning came a few hours after midnight. Al Jazerra reports that Bavaria Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said that evacuations were necessary.
"I think this was the right decision because I believe that we cannot take risks regarding such concrete threats about concrete places and concrete times," Herrmann said.
In the Belgian capital of Brussels, all official celebrations were canceled, after three people were detained due to their ties to an alleged New Year's Eve plot.
Thousands of Parisians participated in the usual year end festivities on the Champs Elysees, despite the fact that the fireworks show had been cancelled. Over 100,000 officers were deployed across France for added protection.
NBC News reports that 3,000 police officers were also deployed on the streets of London.
In Australia, Robert Doyle, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, assured his people that thousands of police officers were on patrol and that the terror levels throughout the world should not deter anyone from having a good time.
"Don't let events from around the world challenge the way that we live," he said.
The one place where there was some legitimate New Year’s Eve panic was in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai.
A massive fire occurred at the 63-story Address hotel. The BBC reports that the flames were brought under control and that 16 people suffered minor injuries.
Anita Williams, an Irish Jazz singer who was set to perform at the hotel that night, described the chaos at the scene.
"Everybody was screaming, everybody was running... I thought: 'This is a film,'" she said.
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