UK, Spain step up security ahead of New Year

According to a VNA correspondent in London, British armed forces are being ordered to strengthen security measures to deal with the risk of terrorist attacks during the upcoming 2016 New Year celebrations.

Police stand guard at Leytonstone underground station in North London, England. (Source: AFP/VNA)

British media reported that on December 28, Home Secretary Theresa May met with senior counter-terrorism officials in the country to discuss plans to establish 24/7 combat-ready units that can be mobilized immediately in the event of a terrorist attack.

Britain has stepped up security amid "close" intelligence reports that several European cities could become terrorist targets during the upcoming New Year.

This raises concerns about Britain's ability to respond to a terrorist attack outside London.

Meanwhile, The Telegraph reported that four regional armed police units will be set up to respond to incidents related to this concern.

Britain's terror alert level remains at "severe," the second-highest on the country's security alert scale, meaning a terrorist attack is highly likely.

Since the beginning of the year, British security agencies have foiled at least seven terrorist attacks in the UK.

On the same day, Spanish police announced strict restrictions on the number of people attending the 2016 New Year's Eve celebration at Puerta del Sol Square in the capital Madrid.

Only about 25,000 will be allowed in the square, which has a capacity of 75,000, and their ability to connect with the outside world will be limited.

Police will not allow anyone to bring fireworks or alcohol into the square, and people will have to use one of the main streets leading to the square after the last subway train of the day stops running at 10pm.

In addition, security surveillance gates on the routes will also scan and detect suspicious devices in the bags and coats of passersby.

Meanwhile, security officials in Geneva, Switzerland, announced on December 28 that they had lowered the terror alert level set earlier this month when they received intelligence about a supporter of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization in the Swiss canton. Accordingly, the alert level was brought back to the “dangerous precaution” level as before December 10.

According to VIETNAM+