Police prepare for a million visitors at Times Squarepublished at 01:32 Greenwich Mean Time
Blanca Estrada
US reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIn a few hours, New York City will ring in the new year (at 05:00 GMT).
About one million people are expected to attend the iconic ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
And there will be a noticeable police presence. Police commissioner Jessica Tisch says there is no specific credible threat, but they are operating in a “heightened threat environment”.
The security plan has also been “calibrated” to account for the Christmas market attack in Germany, according to a briefing with local authorities.
Some intersections in midtown Manhattan will be blocked by rubbish lorries to stop vehicles entering pedestrian areas.
Party-goers should also expect to see drones deployed overhead to monitor the crowds. And according to a security briefing with Tisch, “all manholes, mailboxes, vending machines and litter baskets in the frozen zone will be either sealed or removed”.
We’ve been hearing from some of the revellers getting ready for the new year party:
Watch: Party-goers in New York get ready for new year celebrations