World welcomes 2016 with 'courage and hope' despite terror fears, threats
Jan-01-2016

From Times Square to Tokyo and all points in between, revelers welcomed 2016 with joy and optimism, bidding farewell to a year that ended with deadly terror attacks that left nations reeling and nerves rattled.

In New York, a crowd of 1 million people crammed the blocks around Times Square to watch the famed 11,875-pound Waterford crystal ball complete its minute-long descent to mark the start of the New Year.

The festivities were watched over by an unprecedented 6,000 police officers -- some in civilian clothes, many heavily armed -- as well as rigid security screenings. Officers from the NYPD's elite emergency services unit surveyed the scene from Times Square rooftops, peering below through binoculars and scopes as snipers stood beside them. Heavily armed officers carrying tactical rifles stood on nearly every corner for blocks as police helicopters buzzed overhead after checking in on other parts of the city, including the World Trade Center and Statue of Liberty.

"This is the iconic New Year's celebration for the world," New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton said. "We have no threats we're aware of directed against this event tonight but nevertheless we still plan for the worst and then expect the best."

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