Despite the weather tagged, worst freezing in New York since
1917, some two million people braved it to
welcome 2018 in Times Square, with police enforcing intensely strict security. Residents
and tourists faced the worst New Year freeze, with temperatures of nine degrees
Fahrenheit (minus 12.7 Celsius).
After two attacks in the city inspired by the Islamic State
group, in December and October, security was tightened with more than 20 roads
closed. Barricades and sand-filled trucks were in place, along with
bomb-sniffing dogs and more officers on the ground.
Police also carried out two rounds of security screening on
everyone who entered the Times Square security perimeter, the largest in
history.
On entering the secured area, revelers emptied and discarded
their purses and other small bags, which were not allowed.
After a mass shooter in October killed 58 people in Las
Vegas by firing into a crowd from his hotel room, police also deployed
personnel to hotels and restaurants for the first time.
“This is like the most exciting day in my life. I am very
committed (to facing the cold),” said Hader Ghulam, 27, a Pakistani student
based in Oklahoma visiting the city for the first time.
He told AFP he was impressed by the security measures and
felt “pretty safe.”
Amber Gerrits, a student from Michigan, said she was not
worried.
“I think it’ll be all right,” she said, adding that “a lot
of layers” of clothing helped prepare for temperatures which the National
Weather Service warned were “dangerously cold.”
“And we plan on not drinking too much water,” the
21-year-old said, referring to the difficulties of finding a public bathroom
among the huge crowds.
The celebrations in Times Square featured music
performances, fireworks, 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) of confetti and 25,000
balloons.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and this year’s special guest, activist
Tarana Burke — leader of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment —
pressed a button at midnight to start the traditional dropping of a large
luminous ball down a pole.
Among the celebrities joining the party were Mariah Carey —
whose performance last year was plagued with technical problems — Neil Diamond,
Nick Jonas and Camila Cabello.
AFP
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