A state of emergency has been initiated in Europe, particularly in EU countries, lasting until next Tuesday, due to fears of "terrorist attacks" during New Year's Eve celebrations. This has led most countries on the continent to implement heightened security measures, notably in France, which has deployed 90,000 police officers nationwide amid a "very high terrorist threat," influenced by the situation in Gaza. France has also dispatched 5,000 soldiers "amid potential concerns of a terrorist attack," according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin in a press conference held yesterday in Paris, where he anticipated that more than 1.5 million people will be celebrating New Year's Eve on the Champs-Élysées alone. Similar emergency measures are occurring in other parts of the world, particularly with the potential threat in New York, as seen in the displayed video.
Darmanin also stated: "I have requested a very large mobilization of police and gendarmerie forces in the context of a very high terrorist threat," explaining that police will be able to use drones for the first time as part of security operations, with tens of thousands of firefighters also deployed, in addition to two helicopters over each area in Paris.
In Germany, authorities prohibited tourist visits to the iconic Cologne Cathedral on Christmas Eve, while worshippers faced security checks amid growing fears of a potential attack. The police indicated they are taking necessary precautions, although the available information pertains only to an attack threat on New Year's Eve, based on comments made by police spokesperson Wolfgang Baldes in a press conference.
In Austria, officials stated they enhanced security measures around churches in the capital Vienna, as well as in Christmas markets and beyond. Sweden has maintained a high alert level declared earlier this summer, which is still ongoing. In the Netherlands, according to the British newspaper "The Sun," the level of terrorist threat has increased since last week, "with security services warning that terrorist groups, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, may use the conflict in the Middle East to incite attacks in Western countries," as reported by the newspaper.
Before the meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, Swedish Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson stated: "With the war between Israel and Hamas and the polarization it causes in our society, along with the current holiday season, there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks in Europe." She announced that the Commission will allocate an additional €30 million to enhance security in vulnerable areas, including places of worship, as these are also targeted.
