Europeans to celebrate New Year's despite terror threats
Belgian prosecutors say six people have been detained in connection with an alleged plot to attack public New Year's Eve celebrations, which had already been cancelled due to the threat of terrorism.
Workers had no sooner built the stage for the traditional fireworks display than it was taken down. The expected crowd of tens of thousands was judged just too big a risk after the arrest Tuesday of two men suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the New Year's Eve celebrations, reports CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer.
And Friday morning - as soldiers were out patrolling public areas - there was news of yet another arrest in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek, which was linked to the Paris attacks in November.
Molenbeek was home to Abdelhamid Abaaoud - suspected of planning the Paris attacks -- and to Salah Abdeslam, the one attacker who is still on the run.
Belgium's stepped-up security is a sign that police are still working to disrupt local extremist networks.
The capital is tense, but that does not mean people won't come together to ring in the new year.
"I really believe that the people from Brussels need to go out, party and need to gather as well, and to bond together," said Pablo Saccomano, who manages a Brussels nightclub.
"I think it is backing down to the threat of terrorism. I think we should stand up and just make everything happen," Ken Kinsella agreed.
In Paris, where the memory of the attacks is still fresh, a planned fireworks display has been cancelled, but thousands are expected to come out anyway to follow the tradition of welcoming the New Year on the Champs Elisee.