London on alert: 2,000 armed officers placed on duty

London on alert: 2,000 armed officers placed on duty in the capital for New Year in an unprecedented security operation amid warnings Islamist fanatics may attack a European city. 

Scotland Yard has cancelled leave for more than 2,000 firearms officers. The unprecedented security operation put in place for NYE celebrations comes amid warnings Islamist fanatics may be planning a Europe attack.

However, there is no specific information to suggest London is the target. One senior officer urged the public to be ‘reassured’ rather than alarmed.

Every firearms officer in London will be on duty for the New Year celebrations tonight in an unprecedented security operation.

Scotland Yard has cancelled leave for more than 2,000 armed police – the first time it has taken such a step.

It comes amid intelligence warnings that Islamist fanatics may be planning a terror attack in a European city – although there is no specific information to suggest London is the target.

Security concerns: Every firearms officer in London will be on duty for New Year celebrations. There was a noticeable armed presence on the streets of the capital yesterday, including outside the Houses of Parliament.

Unprecedented: Scotland Yard has cancelled leave for more than 2,000 armed police – the first time it has taken such a step. One armed police officer was pictured standing outside Horse Guards yesterday

Last night officials in Brussels announced that the city's New Year celebrations had been cancelled as the Belgian capital remains on high alert over a Paris-style terror attack. In 2014, some 100,000 people turned out to enjoy the festivities and fireworks display at the Place de Brouckere.

Meanwhile, in New York, 6,000 police officers will join an estimated one million people who will turn out to celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said: 'We are ready. We are the best prepared city in the country, the best prepared city to prevent terrorism and to deal with any event that could occur.' 

In Britain, there was already a noticeable armed presence on the streets of the capital yesterday.

One senior officer urged the public to be ‘reassured’ rather than alarmed by the extra police on duty.

Superintendent Jo Edwards added: ‘People can expect to see more police and more firearms officers.

‘This is something that has been the case since the Paris attacks.’

British Transport Police confirmed there would be more armed police on duty at train and Tube stations ‘to provide further reassurance to everyone’.

Those heading out to celebrate tonight will need to wrap up – as temperatures are set to drop below freezing across much of the country. The South could see the mercury fall as low as -3C (27F), resulting in the first widespread frost in weeks after an unusually mild December.

Elsewhere: News of the biggest ever armed police operation in London comes as New Year’s Eve fireworks in Brussels have been cancelled for security reasons. Above, Belgian police officers are pictured conducting new searches linked to the November 13 Paris terrorist attacks in Molenbeek, Brussels, yesterday

Terror fears: Officers carry out searches as Brussels remains on high alert over a possible terror threat

News of the biggest ever armed police operation in London comes as New Year’s Eve fireworks in Brussels have been cancelled for security reasons.

Mayor Yvan Mayeur said the decision had been made because officials could not guarantee being able to 'check' all attendees. 

Mr Mayeur told the Belgian broadcaster RTBF yesterday: 'Unfortunately we have been forced to cancel the fireworks and all that was planned for tomorrow evening and that would have brought a lot of people together in the centre of Brussels, following a risk analysis by the crisis centre.'

He added: 'It's better not to take any risks.'

People can expect to see more police and more firearms officers

Brussels, which is home to the headquarters of NATO and the European Union, has been on high alert since the November 13 gun and suicide bombing attacks in the French capital that killed 130.

A key suspect in the Paris attacks, Belgian-born fugitive Salah Abdeslam, is believed to have fled to Brussels in the hours after the massacre, which was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

And earlier this week, officers arrested two people suspected of plotting attacks in the Belgian capital during New Year festivities. 

As part of their investigation, police seized an array of items, including military-style training uniforms, computer hardware and Islamic State propaganda material.

Meanwhile Austrian police have stepped up security in Vienna and other cities after receiving a warning of possible attacks.

Prepared: The city will draw on the newly formed Critical Response Command counter-terrorism unit, while other officers will have special equipment. Above, police report for roll call at the Times Square subway station

And Moscow’s Red Square, traditionally a place where Russians gather to ring in the New Year, will be closed to revellers amid mounting security concerns.

In New York, the city will draw on its newly formed Critical Response Command counter-terrorism unit.

The team of about 560 heavily armed officers, trained to detect and respond to attack plots, was commissioned days after the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Officers are also equipped with 20,000 smart phones that will allow police to quickly transmit information on potential threats.

The bomb squad and a unit specializing in chemical and biological threats will sweep hotels, theaters, construction sites and parking garages.

Bomb-sniffing dogs and radiation detectors will also be employed.

The Times Square subway station will also be patrolled, and certain exits will be blocked off.

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL REPORTER