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Thousands of police on duty for New Year's celebration in London

Xinhua, January 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Around 3,000 police officers will be on duty for the New Year's fireworks display in central London amid heightened security, local police said Thursday.

The New Year's Eve firework show will begin at midnight Friday, and about 100,000 people are expected to attend the event.

Some roads and underground stations around the event over the River Thames were closed or only allowed to exit on Thursday afternoon.

Metropolitan Police advised people not to travel into central London for the firework display if they don't have a ticket.

"Around 3,000 officers will be on duty as part of our policing operation for the central London fireworks display, to play our part in ensuring that people see in 2016 safely. I hope that everyone in the capital has a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve," said Superintendent Jo Edwards.

Metropolitan police would be working closely with British transport police who would have additional armed officers in and around central London transport hubs throughout New Year's Eve, he added.

British transport police would have extra officers equipped with guns at underground and train stations across the city with 650 officers on duty. The number of officer tonight double that on a normal week night and slightly higher than last New Year's Eve, according to local media.

In addition, a New Year parade, including marching bands, clowns and acrobats, attended by more than 8,500 performers from 20 countries, will take place in central London on Friday.

According to British media, so far there's no specific intelligence held by British security officials of a plot targeting New Year's Eve, but a terrorist attack at some stage is feared to be highly likely. Endit