Fireworks light up the sky red behind the Peace Tower during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on July 1st. A New Year's Eve celebration Saturday night will see increased security measures in place throughout Canada's capital.

Fireworks light up the sky red behind the Peace Tower during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on July 1st. A New Year's Eve celebration Saturday night will see increased security measures in place throughout Canada's capital.
Photo Credit: CP Photo / Justin Tang

Security beefed up in Ottawa for New Year’s celebration

Extra security measures are in place in Ottawa for New Year’s Eve as Canadians prepare to ring in a year of celebrations marking Canada’s 150th birthday.

Large concrete barriers designed to help prevent truck attacks have been erected to block off important intersections in the downtown core of the capital.

Hidden snipers will be in place along with an increased presence of police tactical units, some armed with rifles.

People attending the fireworks display on Parliament Hill will have their bags examined.

Security experts say that although the terror threat in Canada has not increased in the past three years, New Year’s Eve presents a heightened risk.

Many cities around the world are taking similar measures, including New York, Cologne, Germany, Vienna, Austria and London, England.

A truck attack in Nice, France last July killed 86 people. Eleven people died in a similar attack in Berlin earlier this month.

Categories: International, Society
Tags: , ,

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.