Brussels has called off its traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks show over fear of terrorist attacks, while Germany prepares refugees for midnight attacks of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The decision to suspend fireworks in the Belgian capital comes after a total of six arrests country-wide in relation to plans to execute attacks Thursday night. Around 100,000 people usually show up to watch the show in Place de Brouckere, a square in the city center, which would make it a prime target for terrorists.
“Unfortunately we have been forced to cancel the fireworks and all that was planned for tomorrow evening, that would have brought a lot of people together in the centre of Brussels, following a risk analysis by the crisis centre,” Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur told Belgian television network RTBF. “It’s better not to take any risks.”
Other major cities world wide have upped security for the evening. Turkey arrested two people Wednesday for planning a bombing in Turkish capital Ankara. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh has issued a waning to Americans that an attack may take place.
Germany, on the other hand, is concerned about different problems during New Year’s Eve. Psychotherapists have warned about the trauma refugees may suffer when they hear fireworks.
The local government of the western town of Arnsberg has banned all fireworks around refugee homes. Other local authorities and help organizations have called on people to be considerate in their celebrations, as it may bring flashbacks to bombs and gunshots from the war in Syria.
“My 6-year-old daughter doesn’t like them at all,” Abdul Wahid Majid told Deutsche Welle. “Even though I tell her to look at how pretty the fireworks are, she becomes scared.”
Dietmar Link, an ambulance worker in the city of Leipzig, said he hopes people will understanding with their celebrations and that it’s not an attempt “to spoil the fun of traditional New Year’s fireworks.”
“Bearing in mind the children who have been traumatized by war and violence, consideration in the immediate vicinity of asylum accommodation should be understandable,” Link told DW.
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