Heightened armed police presence for New Year’s Eve fireworks in London

Armed officers will be on duty amid a heightened police presence across the capital as a “precautionary” measure on the night.
3,000 police officers will be on duty in total, predominantly in central London.
The Met is also warning Londoners to stay away from the central London firework display areas if you do not have a ticket, and to plan journeys carefully.
Details of the police operation come two days after fears were raised of a possible Islamist strike on a major city on New Year’s Eve.
The Telegraph reported this week that a ‘friendly’ intelligence service warned a gun or bomb attack could be carried out in crowded places in a major European city between Christmas and New Year.
Met spokeswoman Jo Edwards said: “The public can expect to see additional police officers in central London, which includes an increased number of firearms officers.
“Our plans are purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence.
“If you see anything suspicious or that causes you any concern please tell a police officer or steward.”
There will also be more armed police on duty at train and Tube stations.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “New Year’s Eve will undoubtedly be one of the busiest nights of the year.
“”In order to provide further reassurance to everyone, we will also be extending our regular armed patrols and specialist support beyond normal hours.”
Police are advising people who missed out on tickets to stay at home or to watch the fireworks from a bar or pub.
Road closures in central London start from 2pm on New Year’s Eve.
All closures will be in place from 8pm and run until around 6am on New Year’s Day.
Between 11.45pm on December 31 and 4.30am on January 1, travel on the bus, Tube, tram, Docklands Light Railway and London Overground is free.
Some Tube stations will be closed for crowd control.
These include:
Blackfriars (closed from 11.30pm)
Charing Cross (exit-only from 11.45pm)
Covent Garden (exit-only from 7pm)
Embankment (closed from 11.30pm to 12.15am)
Leicester Square (exit-only from 8pm)
Westminster (closed from 9.30pm)
On the night, there will be no service on the District line between Kensington Olympia and Earl’s Court. No Piccadilly line between Uxbridge and Rayners Lane.
The last Waterloo and City line train is at 2.40am.
The news of the increased police presence comes after it emerged that Russian authorities had warned the country’s citizens to stay at home on New Year’s Eve in order to remain safe.
But Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, said he disagreed with this approach.
“We should never allow the threat of terrorism to frighten us into changing our normal lives,” he told the Telegraph.
“We need to continue with our celebrations.
“Given the current climate, of course we should be extra vigilant and continue to be well protected but if we give into fear then they would have won.”