- Title: Berlin ramps up New Year security after Christmas market attack
- Date: 30th December 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) CONCRETE BARRIERS SET UP NEAR BERLIN'S LANDMARK, THE BRANDENBURG GATE, WHERE UP TO ONE MILLION VISITORS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND EUROPE'S LARGEST NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS FORKLIFT SEEN IN FRONT OF BRANDENBURG GATE VARIOUS OF MEN IN ORANGE VESTS SETTING UP CRASH BARRIERS VARIOUS OF LARGE VIDEO WALL BEING INSTALLED STAGE IN FRONT OF BRANDENBURG GATE WOMAN SWEEPING STAGE VARIOUS OF MEAT ROASTING ON BARBECUE (SOUNDBITE) (German) (UNNAMED) FOOD STALL VENDOR, SAYING: "Everything is secured here. The organisers have been doing this for many years and they have everything under control. People need to be a little patient at the entrances and they need to understand why they are being checked. But other than that, nothing ever happened here." WORKERS ON FORKLIFT IN FRONT OF BRANDENBURG GATE (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESWOMAN FOR ORGANISERS OF NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS, ANJA MARX, SAYING: "The security concept is very comprehensive and if you visit this event you will probably be in one of the safest places in Germany tomorrow night." CONCRETE BARRIERS BLOCKING ACCESS TO PARTY GROUNDS VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF BERLIN POLICE HEADQUARTERS THOMAS NEUENDORF, BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, WALKING PAST IN HALLWAY (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, THOMAS NEUENDORF, SAYING: "Every measure is being taken to prevent a possible attack, such as with concrete barriers, to prevent vehicles from entering the grounds. Police officers will be equipped with machine guns." FLAGS WINDOWS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, THOMAS NEUENDORF, SAYING: "Around 1,700 to 1,800 additional police officers will be deployed for the New Year celebrations. Also, regular patrol cars, the emergency call centre and police stations will be manned with a maximum number of officers." (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, THOMAS NEUENDORF, SAYING: "Following the incidents in Cologne last year we will also take a close look at the aspect of sexual offences. Our officers are briefed and we will pay very close attention to see if perhaps groups get together to harass women. We urgently ask people to call the police immediately if something like this happens to them." CANDLES AND FLOWERS ON GROUND NEAR BRANDENBURG GATE DEDICATED TO THE VICTIM'S OF LAST WEEK'S TRUCK ATTACK PASSERS-BY LOOKING AT CANDLES
- Embargoed: 14th January 2017 12:38
- Keywords: Berlin new year Brandenburg Gate concrete attack truck Christmas market preparations
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA0015F2P2RR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Police across Europe tightened security on Friday (December 30) ahead of New Year's celebrations, erecting concrete barriers and stepping up surveillance measures after a Tunisian man killed 12 people in Berlin last week in the name of Islamic State.
In the German capital, police closed the Pariser Platz square in front of the landmark Brandenburg Gate and prepared to deploy 1,700 additional officers along an adjacent party strip where armoured cars will flank concrete barriers blocking the area.
"The security concept is very comprehensive," said Anja Marx, spokeswoman for the organisers of Berlin's New Year's celebrations.
"If you visit this event you will probably be in one of the safest places in Germany tomorrow night," she said.
Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf told Reuters TV "every measure is being taken to prevent a possible attack."
"Police officers will be equipped with machine guns."
Last week's attack in Berlin, in which 24-year old Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck into a Christmas market, has prompted lawmakers on both sides of Germany's ruling coalition to call for tougher security measures.
Amri was an asylum seeker who had escaped deportation after his application was rejected. He was shot dead by Italian police last Friday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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