The threat of terrorism is changing Europe tonight.
Cities all around the world are increasing their security in response to recent terror attacks. The trend of terrorists attacking large celebratory gatherings of people means the armed forces of Europe, Australia and America are out patrolling the streets, monitoring transport and making their presence felt among New Year’s Eve revellers.
Tonight in London armed police will patrol the city’s underground stations and will be on the tubes for the first time. Officers will be both undercover and in uniform.
In Cologne, where last year, hundreds of women were robbed and sexually assaulted by men of North-African and Arab appearance, new video surveillance has been installed to monitor the crowds. And in Vienna, in direct response to the German attacks, over a thousand panic alarms have been handed out to women in the case of attack.
In Frankfurt, home to the European Central Bank and Germany’s biggest airport, twice as many police officers as last year will be on duty.
In Brussels, where Islamist suicide bombers killed 16 people and injured more than 150 in March, the traditional New Year’s fireworks were almost cancelled but the city’s mayor decided to go ahead with an increased army presence.
Large concrete blocks have been erected at the entrance to squares and places of celebration in many European cities in order to thwart any attempts to drive trucks into crowds. Such method of attack was employed recently in France and at the Berlin Christmas markets.
Two separate attacks planned for NYE in France have been foiled by the french police in recent days. The country is on high alert and will have over 90,ooo police officers and 7,000 soldiers on duty during the course of the night.
The iconic fireworks at the Eiffel tower have been cancelled.
In New York, huge rubbish lorries filled with sand have been used to block off the streets around Times Square.
It seems this backdrop of terror is quickly becoming the new normal for many cities.
Stay safe.
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