By Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Taipei Police Department is to deploy a counterterrorism unit of 800 officers and five police dogs to enhance public security at New Year’s Eve celebrations in the capital tonight. With the Taipei New Year’s Eve Party at Taipei City Hall Plaza and the Taipei 101 fireworks to take place in Xinyi District (信義) between 6:30pm tonight and 1am tomorrow, and an expected crowd of more than 100,000 people, Xinyi Precinct yesterday released its plans to enhance public safety. “The department is to deploy 800 police officers and will implement three stages of traffic controls,” Xinyi Precinct Deputy Chief Chen Yung-hua (陳勇華) said. The counterterrorism unit is to patrol the party venue and its surrounding areas, including Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Plaza and Taipei 101, making sure that prohibited items, such as illegal drugs, guns, knives and explosives, are not brought into the area, Chen said. More traffic information, including recommended public transportation methods, can be found on the Taipei New Year’s Eve Party’s Web site at www.newyear2020.taipei/en/traffic.html.
