Police officers patrol Times Square in New York.
REUTERS
The US and Europe are on higher terror alert levels on New Year’s Eve.Anger over the Israel-Hamas war could make New Year’s Eve celebrations a target, say security officials.France has mobilized 90,000 police officers to heighten security during New Year’s festivities.
Fears that the Israel-Hamas war has fuelled a new wave of radicalization have put US and European cities on a terrorism threat alert for New Year’s Eve.
Law enforcement agencies in the US are intensifying security measures for New Year’s Eve, where concerns about lone-wolf attacks have risen amid the Israel-Hamas war.
New York and its iconic Time Square celebrations are of the most concern, said the report.
New York Mayor Eric Adams denied any specific threats but said, “We’re gonna be ready to respond” to any potential problem, CNN reported.
A joint threat assessment from 10 agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, signals a heightened threat environment, partly due to the risk of online radicalization leading to unsophisticated attacks, per CNN.
The assessment, obtained by CNN, revealed persistent worries about lone offenders using online platforms to express violent threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, raising concerns about difficult-to-detect attacks.
In France, 90,000 police officers and gendarmes have been mobilized during this weekend’s New Year festivities because of a “highly elevated terror threat,” per The Times.
Belgium remains on its second-highest level of terrorism threat alert after two Swedish football fans were shot and killed by a Tunisian illegal immigrant in October. He described himself as an ISIS “soldier.”
Germany is also gearing up for one of its largest police operations, recognizing the potential for violence on New Year’s Eve.
Nancy Faeser, the German interior minister, expressed concern about a mix of blind rage and senseless violence, acknowledging an increased danger due to radicalization influenced by the Middle East conflict.
With 4,000 police deployed in Berlin and additional support from other regions, security measures aim to prevent potential threats.
Tension increased earlier month when four men were arrested in Berlin accused of being part of a Hamas plot to attack the Jewish community, per BBC News.
They planned to store weapons in the German capital for future attacks, said the report.
Danish authorities arrested three men linked to the alleged plot.
Meanwhile, before Christmas, Germany was tipped off by a foreign intelligence agency of a potential plot to attack cathedrals in Cologne or Vienna by an ISIS-affiliate group, The Times reported.
This is not the first time Germany required vigilance on New Year’s Eve. During the 2015-2016 New Year’s celebrations across Germany, a string of sexual assault incidents were reported, with approximately 1,200 women targeted.