2015 New Year's attack plots

International terrorist plot February 2023 In late December 2015, authorities in several countries announced the discovery of attack plots, organized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), targeting New Year's celebrations. Police in North America and Europe were on high alert in December 2015 because of a series of terrorist attacks and attack plots, including the November 2015 Paris attacks, and because of information picked up by security agencies indicating that militants might plan to attack public New Year's Eve celebrations. New Year's Eve celebrations were cancelled following intelligence reports of planned attacks and several arrests in Brussels, while in Munich, rail service was suspended as suspected attack plots were uncovered. In other cities, security was increased amid heightened fears in the wake of the Paris attacks.Smith Alexander Jamieson Alastair Ing Nancy Security Raised at New Year Celebrations Amid World Terror Fears http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/paris-terror-attacks/belgium-makes-10th-arrest-over-paris-attack-amid-new-year-n488371/ 7 February 2016 NBC News 31 December 2015 February 7, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160207012242/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/paris-terror-attacks/belgium-makes-10th-arrest-over-paris-attack-amid-new-year-n488371 liveHanna Jason McKirdy Euan Security and terrorism: Jittery backdrops to New Year's Eve around the world http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/world/new-years-eve-terrorism-security-concerns/ 7 February 2016 CNN 31 December 2015 February 22, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160222170922/http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/world/new-years-eve-terrorism-security-concerns/ liveBartunek Robert-Jan Brussels cancels NYE celebrations, Turkey attack plots foiled with arrests http://www.smh.com.au/world/brussels-cancels-nye-celebrations-turkey-attack-plots-foiled-with-arrests-20151230-glx3eq.html 7 February 2016 Reuters; Washington Post The Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 2016 January 3, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160103102421/http://www.smh.com.au/world/brussels-cancels-nye-celebrations-turkey-attack-plots-foiled-with-arrests-20151230-glx3eq.html liveKoren Marina The Heightened Security for New Year's Eve Around the World https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/new-years-eve-security/422340// 7 February 2016 The Atlantic 31 December 2016 March 14, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170314202506/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/new-years-eve-security/422340/ live There were unprecedented security measures in several major European cities, including Paris, London, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Moscow.Terror alert and fires disrupt New Year's celebrations http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/terror-alert-fires-disrupt-year-celebrations-160101032940782.html Al-Jazeera 1 January 2016 July 14, 2016 July 16, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160716165600/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/terror-alert-fires-disrupt-year-celebrations-160101032940782.html liveBrussels police detain three over 'New Year terror plot' https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35199793 BBC 31 December 2015 June 21, 2018 June 5, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180605114449/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35199793 live New Year's attack plots Brussels Belgian police arrested two men on 27 and 28 December and charged them with involvement in an ISIL-related plan to attack New Year's celebrations in Brussels, reportedly having discussed attacking the Grand-Place. Four others were arrested during raids and questioned but subsequently released. Public New Year's Eve celebrations and fireworks were cancelled in Brussels due to the heightened terror threat.Calamur Krishnadev Arrests in Belgium https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/belgium-arrests/422103/ 4 January 2016 The Atlantic 29 December 2015 April 10, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160410084016/http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/belgium-arrests/422103/ liveHanna Jason Cruickshank Paul Cotovio Vasco Brussels' New Year's festivities canceled in wake of alleged plot http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/29/europe/belgium-terror-arrests/ 25 February 2016 CNN 30 December 2015 March 1, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160301161630/http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/29/europe/belgium-terror-arrests/ live No charges were pressed for planning an attack, but the two men were convicted of being members of a terrorist organization and sentenced to prison.https://www.rtl.be/info/belgique/faits-divers/un-kamikazes-rider-passera-plusieurs-annees-en-prison-reconnu-coupable-de-terrorisme-860790.aspx Un Kamikaze Rider passera plusieurs années en prison : reconnu coupable de terrorisme Newmedia RTL RTL Info 2018-06-26 June 26, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180626141012/https://www.rtl.be/info/belgique/faits-divers/un-kamikazes-rider-passera-plusieurs-annees-en-prison-reconnu-coupable-de-terrorisme-860790.aspx live Ankara Turkish police seized bomb-making equipment, a suicide vest and other equipment during a raid of a house in Ankara on 30 December, and detained two ISIL militants on charges of plotting a New Year's attack. A main target was reported to be the Kizilay Square where large crowds gather to celebrate New Year's Eve.Koren Marina A Foiled New Year's Eve Terrorist Plot in Turkey https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/turkey-isis-new-year/422217/ 4 January 2016 The Atlantic 30 December 2015 October 29, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161029235140/http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/turkey-isis-new-year/422217/ liveYeginsu Ceylan Turkey Detains 2 ISIS Militants Planning New Year's Eve Attack https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/world/europe/ankara-turkey-isis-attack.html?_r=0 6 February 2016 New York Times 30 December 2015 January 3, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160103103103/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/world/europe/ankara-turkey-isis-attack.html?_r=0 live Munich train stations plot In Munich, ISIL terrorists reportedly planned attacks on two train stations on New Year's Eve. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/munich-police-warn-of-imminent-threat-of-terror-attack Munich suicide bomb plot: police hunt Isis suspects behind New Year's Eve threat Knight Ben 1 January 2016 4 January 2016 The Guardian May 4, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190504113010/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/munich-police-warn-of-imminent-threat-of-terror-attack live Smith Alexander Neubert Michele ISIS Plot Tip-Off Triggered New Year's Eve Terror Scare in Munich http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/isis-plot-tip-triggered-new-year-s-eve-terror-scare-n488846 7 February 2016 NBC News 1 January 2016 February 6, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160206234351/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/isis-plot-tip-triggered-new-year-s-eve-terror-scare-n488846 live German police stated that they thwarted the plots after they received a "very concrete tip" around 7:40 p.m. on New Year's Eve from intelligence sources in the United States and France.Eddy Melissa Munich on High Alert After New Year's Eve Terrorism Threat https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/02/world/europe/munich-threat-attack.html?_r=0 8 February 2016 New York Times 1 January 2016 January 6, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160106095907/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/02/world/europe/munich-threat-attack.html?_r=0 live According to Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann, between five and seven suicide bombers planned to blow themselves up at locations that included two train stations. A 550-strong police manhunt ensued after the possible suspects.Manhunt in Munich for New Year terror suspects http://www.thelocal.de/20160101/manhunt-in-munich-for-new-year-terror-suspects The Local 1 January 2016 July 14, 2016 August 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160820190320/http://www.thelocal.de/20160101/manhunt-in-munich-for-new-year-terror-suspects live The investigation was dropped in February 2016 due to "lack of clues" amid a failure to uncover leads on the seven names given in the warning.Munich New Year terror investigation comes up empty http://www.thelocal.de/20160218/munich-new-year-terror-investigation-comes-up-empty The Local 18 February 2016 July 14, 2016 August 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160820175832/http://www.thelocal.de/20160218/munich-new-year-terror-investigation-comes-up-empty live Rochester, New York Emanuel Lutchman, age 25, was arrested in Rochester, New York by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force on December 30 and charged with offering to provide material support to a terrorist group. He had specifically planned an attack on the Merchants Grill restaurant.McDermott Meaghan M. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/01/08/accused-terrorist-emanuel-lutchtman-emotional-court-appearance/78506446/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin= Accused terrorist Lutchman fights tears in court Democrat & Chronicle 8 January 2016 5 February 2016 February 7, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160207222313/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/01/08/accused-terrorist-emanuel-lutchtman-emotional-court-appearance/78506446/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin= liveLoBianco Tom Feds: New York man was planning ISIS attack on New Year's Eve http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/politics/new-york-isis-attack-rochester/ 25 February 2016 CNN 1 January 2016 March 4, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222252/http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/politics/new-york-isis-attack-rochester live He told the Federal Bureau of Investigation that he had also planned on killing his wife.Craig Gary http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2017/01/26/isil-sympathizer-lutchman-gets-20-years-foiled-terrorist-plot/96982812/ FBI says Lutchman planned to kill wife January 26, 2017 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle January 30, 2017 January 27, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170127130613/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2017/01/26/isil-sympathizer-lutchman-gets-20-years-foiled-terrorist-plot/96982812/ live On August 11, 2016, Lutchman pleaded guilty for planning the attack.White Daniel https://time.com/4449595/new-york-domestic-terror-plot-isis/ New York Man Pleads Guilty to New Year's Eve Terror Plot August 11, 2016 Time January 30, 2017 On January 26, 2017, he was given the maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. Other plots Turkish police later revealed that they had informed other countries after finding evidence on a laptop retrieved during the Ankara raid of an EU-wide plot against Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey by a group of thirteen prepared suicide bombers who had left the ISIL headquarters in Raqqa.Munich New Year alert 'part of EU-wide Isis plot' http://www.thelocal.de/20160107/munich-new-year-alert-part-of-eu-wide-isis-plot The Local 7 January 2016 July 14, 2016 August 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160820183239/http://www.thelocal.de/20160107/munich-new-year-alert-part-of-eu-wide-isis-plot live Austrian police heightened security measures and investigated suspects in Vienna before New Year's Eve, without finding "concrete further results".Security and terrorism: Jittery backdrops to New Year's Eve around the world https://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/31/world/new-years-eve-terrorism-security-concerns/ CNN 31 December 2016 July 14, 2016 August 18, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160818065003/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/31/world/new-years-eve-terrorism-security-concerns/ live See also 2000 millennium attack plots Strasbourg Cathedral bombing plot 2017 Istanbul nightclub shooting 2025 New Orleans truck attack References 30em Category:Failed terrorist attempts Category:Terrorist incidents in Belgium in 2015 Category:Islamic State terrorist incidents in Belgium Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 2015 Category:Islamic State terrorist incidents in the United States Category:Islamic terrorism in New York (state) Category:Islamic State terrorist incidents in Germany Category:Terrorist incidents in Turkey in 2015 Category:Islamic State terrorist incidents in Turkey Category:Attacks during New Year celebrations Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2015 Category:December 2015