Brussels cancels New Year’s Eve fireworks display due to extremist attack threat

A poster shows things that are forbidden during the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Dec 28, 2015.

“Restaurants, bars and private party halls will allow people to celebrate” the New Year, he said, adding that the decision to cancel the public festivities was “difficult”.

Other European countries have also taken precautionary measures.

The fugitive suspect Abdeslam is believed to have fled to Brussels in the hours after the attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

On Thursday, a hearing for two men identified as Mohamed Karay, 27, and Said Souati, 30, accused of plotting a New Year’s Eve terrorist attack, was scheduled.

In relation to the detention of Ayoub B. on Wednesday, police also raided a residence on Molenbeek’s Rue Delaunoy and seized “about 10 cellphones”.

The second faced charges of planning and “participating in the activities of a terrorist group”, it said.

Belgium’s stepped-up security is a sign that police are still working to disrupt local extremist networks.

Around 50,000 people were expected to attend the fireworks display in Place de Brouckere. The mayor advised that for them the New Year would be greeted with a more reflective atmosphere.

According to The New York Times, investigators say they found evidence of threats to several popular Brussels locations that were “in the same style” as the November 13 Paris attacks.

The US military has said some IS commanders in Iraq and Syria who had links to the Paris attacks and were planning further attacks on the West have died in bombing raids over the past month.

Moscow’s Red Square, where people typically gather to ring in the new year, will be closed to party-goers.

Police in London are ramping up security to guard revellers out to watch the Mayor’s firework display.

“Caution is a good counsellor, fear is not”, he told broadcaster RBB.

In Dubai as well, police officials confirmed that 5,000 people include police, civil defence officers and volunteers would be deployed throughout the city to ensure safety and security during the New Year’s eve celebrations.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been working closely with the mayor’s office, British Transport Police (BTP), Westminster City Council and others to ensure the event runs smoothly.