EUROPE (NewsFirst) — Concerns about potential terror attacks during New Year’s Eve celebrations have prompted officials to enhance security measures, with Europe remaining on “high alert.”
In France, 90,000 police officers will be deployed nationwide due to a “very high terrorist threat,” particularly linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Paris, expecting over 1.5 million attendees on the Champs-Elysees, will have 6,000 officers present. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin emphasized the need for a strong police mobilization amid the elevated threat level, allowing the use of drones for the first time. Additionally, tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers will be deployed, along with two helicopters over the Paris metropolitan area.
The focus of New Year’s Eve celebrations in Paris will center on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, featuring DJ sets, fireworks, and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe. The security measures align with the tragic incident earlier this month, where a terrorist attack in Paris claimed the life of a 24-year-old tourist.
Security measures are not exclusive to France. In Germany, authorities took precautions at Cologne’s landmark cathedral on Christmas Eve, barring sightseeing visits and implementing security checks due to concerns of a potential attack. Despite information pointing specifically to New Year’s Eve, police stressed the need to protect people in the busy area.
Austria has increased security around Vienna’s churches and Christmas markets, while Sweden remains on high alert. The Netherlands raised its terror threat level last week, citing warnings about terrorist groups exploiting the Middle East conflict for attacks in the West.
Amid these concerns, the interior minister for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, urged people not to avoid celebrations but to exercise caution. He emphasized the use of all available information by agencies to maximize protection, stating that fear is the currency of terrorists and should not be made more valuable.
The European Commission announced an additional €30 million (£26 million) to enhance security in vulnerable areas, such as places of worship, in response to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks during the Christmas period, exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza.
