US: Many cities tighten security at New Year's Eve 2024 locations

Mỹ: Nhiều thành phố siết chặt an ninh tại các địa điểm đón Năm mới 2024 - 1 — Security tightened at Times Square in New York, USA ahead of New Year 2024 (Photo: AP).

Americans and tourists planning to celebrate New Year's Eve in person at Times Square will see strict security measures in the hours before and after the bells ring in 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.

The New York State Police will be providing extra manpower, while the state National Guard and other agencies will step up patrols around the area where the ball drop 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 stepping up security by mobilizing bomb squads and using low-altitude helicopter flights.

Meanwhile, New York Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city has not recorded any threats but is acting "extremely cautiously" and taking response measures, and affirmed that people can rest assured to welcome the New Year because the authorities have increased security both on the ground and in the air.

"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 and in the air during the festivities to ensure New Yorkers can celebrate the New Year safely," Mayor Adams wrote on social media X.

Boston Police will be on standby at key New Year's Eve venues, including First Night Boston, which is expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors for fireworks, carousels, impromptu performances and other activities.

Las Vegas police are also taking similar steps to ensure security for the nearly 400,000 people attending New Year's Eve events. In San Francisco, police spokesman Robert Rueca said the agency has deployed a large number of police at New Year's Eve venues and train stations.

The move comes after the FBI and other federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the US National Counterterrorism Center warned of potential security risks to large crowds celebrating the holiday, including "lone wolves" due to the conflict between Hamas and Israel as well as an increase in hate crimes across the US.

Authorities are particularly concerned about large-scale mob violence.

"Lone wolves may attempt to disrupt or escalate violence at large gatherings, high-profile events, or religious or symbolic sites throughout the winter. These events pose a risk of being targeted by individuals with anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab sentiments," the FBI said in the alert.

FBI official Robert Kissane stressed that "we are in an increasingly heightened threat environment" and that this has been the case since October 7, when the war between Israel and Hamas began. The agency is encouraging people to report any suspicions or risks.

“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,” the official said.

Europe also tightens security

Safety concerns also spread outside the United States, prompting countries to beef up security on New Year's Eve.

France's domestic intelligence chief, Celine Berthon, said the country was deploying 90,000 law enforcement officers on New Year's Eve, including 6,000 in Paris, where more than 1.5 million people attended celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said at a press conference that there was a "very high terrorist threat" partly because of "what is happening in Israel and Palestine", referring to the Israel-Hamas war.

He said police would be able to use drones for the first time as part of security operations, and tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers would also be deployed.

Germany also deployed the largest number of police in decades, amid the risk of riots breaking out again like the last day of 2022. In particular, the streets of the German capital last night witnessed twice as many police officers as on the night of December 31, 2022, when clashes occurred between police and groups of young people.

Source