Pic-London fireworks for welcome 2019 new year(wp/es)
staff reporter(wp/es):
London’s skyline was filled with an array of dazzling colours as an incredible fireworks display ensured the capital welcomed 2019 with bang.
More than 100,000 revellers descended on the heart of the city for its official New Year’s Eve light show along the banks of the River Thames on Monday night.
A spectacular display lit up the night sky over some of the capital’s most famous landmarks as onlookers watched in awe. Some 70,000 projectiles, made up of 12,000 fireworks, exploded over the city during the extravagant show.
The words "London is open" rang in the new year at the main celebration, which boasted the largest annual display in Europe. The phrase was spoken in seven languages around two minutes past midnight as the skyline filled with lights.
A soundtrack featuring Europe's finest musical artists celebrated the diversity of the capital, after Big Ben, silent for much of 2018 due to renovations, chimed once more.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the sold-out display would show Europe that the capital will remain "open-minded" and "outward looking" post-Brexit.
He said Westminster politicians had given the world the impression that Britain is "insular, inward looking", as Britain begins the new year countdown to Brexit.
Mr Khan said he hoped this year's event would "send a message of support" to the more than one million European citizens for whom London is home.
Festive lights also brought night skies alive all over the world, including in Dubai, Sydney, Auckland and Hong Kong.
As London waited for the big countdown, cities such as Paris, Tokyo, Sydney and Moscow had already welcomed the New Year with stunning firework shows of their own.
Ahead of the main event in London, the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Every year our capital puts on the greatest fireworks show in the world with the spectacular images of our skyline shared all around the globe.
"I'm proud that this year the millions watching around the world will see us send a message of support to more than one million EU citizens who call London their home.”
As has become a New Year’s Eve tradition in the UK capital, Transport for London (TfL) put on free travel for all its Tube and bus services between 11.45pm and 4.30am
Bus services in central London were disrupted due to the celebrations.
The Metropolitan Police also had a busy night on its hands, with Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi saying: "It is a lovely time of year and we would like everyone who comes to London to have a good time.
“The safety of those attending is our top priority and officers have been planning for several months for New Year’s Eve.
“Officers will be out and about to deter criminals and keep crowds safe but we need you to look after yourself and those around you as well.
"If you see anything suspicious or that causes you concern, please tell a steward or police officer. Keep an eye on your belongings and only bring what you need.”
Australia and New Zealand were among the first to welcome the arrival of 2019 in fine style with displays of fireworks watched by millions of people.
The first to bring in the New Year were people in Samoa. It became 2019 there at around 10am UK time.
Festive lights later splashed the night sky of Downtown Dubai as the city held an impressive celebration.
The skyline across the city was filled with an array of colours and smoke as a spellbinding fireworks display flew across the Burj Khalifa tower – the world’s tallest building - in the United Arab Emirates city.
In Paris, hundreds of revellers were seen lining the streets in the Champs-Elysees as the city celebrated its New Year's Celebrations.
Concerts and light shows were also held across the city of Moscow, in Russia, where parks and more than 1,000 ice rinks were opened for revellers.
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