London displays fireworks over Big Ben, London Eye

Revellers around the world have rung in 2016 in spectacular and subdued fashion as militant attacks of the past few months remain fresh in their minds.

He told Sky News: “I got to the fire escape before the actual fire alarm had started going off, by which point there were already people running in the corridors, panicking essentially, and I ended up having to put somebody on my back who was in a wheelchair”.

In Dubai, a vast blaze ripped through a luxury 63-story hotel, the Address Downtown, close to the world’s tallest tower where people had gathered to ring in the New Year. Photo / Getty Images People write their new year wishes on cards placed inside the balloons and release them in a traditional ceremony at midnight in Tokyo.

In New York, around 6,000 police were watching over a bustling Times Square as Mayor Bill Blasio flicked the switch, sending the city’s massive glittering glass ball down in the final seconds of 2015.

Tens of thousands lined banks and bridges along the Thames, braving intermittent spells of rain before a midnight display featuring around 12,000 fireworks which produced 50,000 projectiles.

(160101) – HONG KONG, Jan. 1, 2016(Xinhua) – Fireworks show marking the New Year’s Day of 2016 is held at Victoria Harbour in south China’s Hong Kong, Jan. 1, 2016.

In Scotland, the Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations saw several firework displays above the city’s castle, as well as a performance from Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro.

But they will be vigilant and proactive with celebrations coming just weeks after terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.

Indonesia is on high alert after police uncovered plans for a terror attack on the capital during the festivities.

At least 14 people were slightly injured, and one person suffered a heart attack from the smoke and over-crowding during an evacuation late Thursday, according to the Dubai Media Office. Brussels was home to four of the radical Islamic attackers who killed 130 people in Paris on November 13.

In Berlin, backpacks and fireworks have been banned in major celebration centres across the cities, Berlin’s interior minister Frank Henkel said. Despite the call by police for people to stay away from crowds, thousands of people were still on the streets to meet the new year with fireworks.

Earlier, cities in Europe welcome the New Year with pomp – despite heightened security measures in some countries.

Fireworks explode around the London Eye wheel, the Big Ben clock tower and the Houses of Parliament to mark the beginning of the New Year in London, Britain.

Patsy McGlone, chair of the Assembly’s committee on enterprise, trade and investment, said money was found “for all sorts of things” in government and believed New Year’s Eve celebrations could be improved without impacting on ratepayers.

At the Giza Pyramids, hundreds of people gathered for a fireworks and lighting display at the stroke of midnight.

“It’s pretty scary stuff”, she said.

Young people take a selfie in front of decorations for New Year celebration in Tverskaya street in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015.