Serious Terror Threat in Brussels While London Told to 'Soak Up' NYE Party

Investigations are underway in Belgium surrounding a "serious threat" of a terrorist attack on soldiers, tourists or police in the capital, Brussels.

Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur told state broadcaster RTBF: "Together with the interior minister, we’ve decided to not have the celebrations on Thursday evening".

More than 100,000 people turned out to welcome in the New Year in Brussels in 2014, however "in these circumstances, we can’t check everyone", Mayor Yvan Mayeur said.

Four of the attackers who killed 130 people in Paris in November lived in Belgium; a country considered a hub for recruiting Daesh militants in Europe. A further six people have been arrested in connection with a terrorist plot to attack Brussels on New Year’s Eve.

​In France, more than 60,000 police and soldiers will be deployed across the country. The fireworks display has been cancelled in Paris but will be replaced with a video display on the Arc de Triomphe.

In London, Scotland Yard has cancelled annual leave for more than 2,000 armed officers and every firearms officer in London will be on duty. Boris Johnson said: "it’s business as usual" and added that "we’ve seen nothing to suggest a specific threat to London".

Ken March, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said: "All firearms officers will be on duty. There will be no leave for firearms teams to provide greater cover. There is an awful lot of work going on behind the scenes.

"I think people will defy the terrorist threat."

 A record 6,000 police officers will be on duty in London and extra officers will be deployed elsewhere in the country ahead of New Year celebrations.