Asia beefs up security for New Year's Eve

Security officials are on high alert in Asia as hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join crowded celebrations to greet the new year.

Security has been beefed up this year, officials say, following recent terror attacks around the world, including those in Paris and California, and the one that killed 20 people at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine in August.

In Shanghai, officials were also told to ensure there will be no overcrowding at popular haunts and countdown events. The Chinese city is marking one year since a stampede killed 36 revellers at the Bund area on New Year's Eve.

In Ankara, Turkish police yesterday detained two suspected suicide bombers linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They were plotting an attack on New Year's Eve in the capital, a Turkish official said.

New Zealand and Australian cities will first greet the new year, followed by Western Hemisphere cities.

This article was first published on Dec 31, 2015.
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