London, European capitals on alert after warning of New Year terror threat

LONDON and other European capitals are on alert amid fears Islamist terrorists are planning an outrage on New Year’s Eve. A “friendly” intelligence service has warned a gun or bomb attack could be carried out in crowded places in a major European city between Christmas and New Year. The stark message came as Russian authorities warned citizens to stay at home on Thursday night as the safest way of seeing in the New Year. But a British MP insisted Britons should not give in to terrorists and urged them to celebrate New Year as normal. In a separate development, four dedicated regional armed police units could be established amid fears there is insufficient cover to deal with a terror attack outside of London. Counter-terrorism chiefs are in talks with Theresa May, the Home Secretary, to have the units on standby around the clock as well as officers ring-fenced from other duties to be able to react with 15 minutes of an attack happening. The warning of another attack on a European city had been issued by an unnamed intelligence agency in the days before Christmas, the Austrian authorities revealed.

“A warning was sent out by a friendly [intelligence] service to numerous European capitals, saying that it could come to an attack involving explosives or a shooting between Christmas and the New Year in crowded spaces,” police in Vienna said. The warning led to an increase in security checks, including surveillance in crowded spaces, especially at events and traffic hubs, as well as intensive identity checks and higher alertness for objects which could carry explosives such as bags or bicycle frames, the police said. A spokesman for the German interior ministry said: “Germany is still in the cross-hairs of Jihadist terrorism.” In Russia, Valery Ryzansky, the head of the upper house of parliament’s tourism committee, warned members of the public to celebrate New Year at home. He said Russians should use common sense when making their plans for New Year and heed warnings of possible terror attacks. “Each person should decide on his own whether or not to travel to Europe to celebrate . . . but a family celebration of New Year’s at home is the safest and best format,” he said. However, Commons Home Affairs select committee chairman Keith Vaz said: “We should never allow the threat of terrorism to frighten us into changing our normal lives. We need to continue with our celebrations. “Given the current climate, of course we should be extravigilant and continue to be well protected, but if we give in to fear then they will have won,” he said.