Brussels cancels New Year's Eve celebrations following security threats
The Belgian capital decided to not continue with its traditional fireworks display this year, after two people were arrested on Monday on suspicion of planning a terror attack.
Authorities in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday decided to cancel the city's traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks display after being alerted to security threats. The decision was made a day after Belgian police arrested two people on suspicion of planning terror attacks in the capital during the New Year holidays. “Together with the interior minister, we’ve decided to not have the celebrations on Thursday evening,” Mayor of Brussels Yvan Mayeur told state broadcaster RTBF.
More than 100,000 people had attended the celebrations last year. “We are forced to cancel considering the risk analysis done by the Crisis Centre. In these circumstances, we can’t check everyone,” Mayeur added. A security threat had last forced Brussels to cancel its New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2007.
Investigations into the November 13 Paris attacks have been focused around Belgium. It was found that two suicide bombers involved in the attacks had been living in the country.