Cities around the world have scaled back New Year’s Eve celebrations amid security concerns, as the FBI says it foiled an alleged bombing attack planned for Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve
Fireworks light up the sky during the New Year celebrations in Hong Kong(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Several cities worldwide are calling off their New Year’s Eve festivities due to credible threats of terrorist attacks.
This follows the FBI’s thwarting of an alleged planned bombing attack in Los Angeles set for New Year’s Eve. The four suspects were nabbed earlier this month in the Mojave Desert, east of Los Angeles, while rehearsing their plot, revealed First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli at a press conference.
Officials presented surveillance aerial footage of the suspects moving a large black object onto a table in the desert. They managed to arrest the suspects before they could assemble a functional explosive device, officials said.
People gather on the Champs-Elysee as they wait for the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Paris in 2022(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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The criminal complaint identifies the four suspects as Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. All hail from the Los Angeles area, according to Essayli.
As it stands, Los Angeles city officials have not announced any plans to cancel New Year’s Eve gatherings, but several cities have scaled back their celebrations, reports the Mirror US.
Paris
In Paris, the concert scheduled for New Year’s Eve has been scrapped, reports local news outlet sortiraparis.com, citing a request from Paris police due to security concerns.
Authorities reportedly urged the mayor to call off the concert to minimise the threat of crushes and disorder, given that massive crowds usually flock to the Champs-Elysées performance.
However, a fireworks spectacular will still go ahead, meaning not all festivities have been scrapped.
Sydney
New Year’s Eve pyrotechnics have been axed following the tragic Bondi Beach shooting that occurred earlier this month. The spectacular was expected to attract 15,000 revellers to Bondi Beach.
Waverley Council confirmed the cancellations, stating: “Due to the current situation on the ground, Waverley Council has made the decision to cancel New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach, including elrow XXL Bondi and Local’s Lawn,” according to Sky News.
The broadcaster reported that event organiser Fuzzy also explained the choice was made to maintain focus on demonstrating “compassion and care for Sydney’s Jewish community.”
Paris at new year(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tokyo
Much like Paris, Tokyo officials scrapped the scheduled New Year’s Eve countdown at Shibuya Station over fears that massive gatherings could become targets for attacks and might trigger deadly stampedes, Japan Today reported.
The publication noted that Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe also expressed worries about the potential consequences of public drinking.
