Scotland Yard cancels all leave for New Year's Eve

Scotland Yard today cancelled all leave for New Year's Eve as all armed officers have been deployed to monitor celebrations here as the British capital is on a high terror alert after Vienna police shared intelligence over threats to European capitals.
A record 6,000 police officers will be on duty here today and other forces across the UK will also deploy extra officers at New Year celebrations.
"The public will probably see more police officers on the streets as part of our policing plan. They may see more visible firearms officers as well. But it's all part of the aim of our plan, which is to provide safety and security for those coming into London, and also to reassure not frighten people," a Met Police spokesperson said.

The British capital is on a heightened terror alert after Vienna police shared intelligence over threats to European capitals during the end of the year celebrations.
It is for the first time that the armed officers' leaves have been cancelled due to New Year, although such steps have been taken for key events previously such as the London 2012 Olympics, according to the Telegraph.
London Mayor Boris Johnson stressed that it will be "business as usual" in the city, which is flooded by locals and tourists to witness the fireworks on the banks of the river Thames.

"From our fantastic fireworks on the banks of the Thames to thousands of events in pubs, clubs and restaurants across the city I'd urge Londoners and visitors alike to get out there and soak up the best we have to offer. As with any other major event in the capital our policing response will be appropriate, but I'd stress we've seen nothing to suggest a specific threat to London," he said.

The London fireworks display, opposite the Houses of Parliament, is a ticket-only event for the second year running and has already been sold out but the capital will also see large numbers of revellers gathering at other locations, including Trafalgar Square.
The city's extra high terror alert for tonight comes as Belgium cancelled its annual fireworks and festivities in the capital Brussels which witnessed 10,000 people at last year's festivities. Last month, Brussels was placed under a four-day lockdown closing universities, schools and the metro system, amid fears of a Paris-style attack.
The shootings and bombings in the French capital left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded. Belgium and Brussels have been central to investigations into the Paris attacks, which are thought to have been masterminded by Belgian national Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

Security has been stepped up in many cities across Europe ahead of New Year festivities.