Britain’s Christmas markets will surrounded by a ring of a steel with armed police on patrol and metal detectors at entrances as security is raised over new terror fears.
There will be concrete barriers, stop and search checks and officers on the ground at the popular festive events in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Bath in the run up to Christmas.
The precautions are being taken after the Local Government Association warned councils to be vigilant this year with the terror threat level to the UK currently at ‘severe’ – meaning an incident is ‘highly likely’.
Britain has suffered from the three horrific attacks this year with innocent people and children killed in London and Manchester.
But while security is being ramped up in light of the atrocities in Westminster in March, the Manchester Arena in May and London Bridge in June, the authorities are also concerned about a potential copy-cat attack.
Last Year 12 were murdered when an ISIS fanatic ploughed a lorry through Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz Christmas market.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘The public may see additional protective security measures and barriers at events this year, in response to a number of vehicle-based terrorist attacks we have sadly seen both here in the UK and abroad.
‘There could also be increased security checks at some events and venues so we advise the public to arrive in plenty of time to allow for this.’
Police patrol at Edinburgh Christmas market as security measures are ramped up across the country in fear of a terror attack
Large concrete bollards are lowered into position in Bath ahead of the Christmas market starting in the historic city
Security gates are erected at the Christmas market in Manchester as the authorities increase security to keep visitors safe
Armed police walk among shoppers in Edinburgh Christmas market as Britain’s terror alert remains at ‘severe’ going into the festive period
Guests flock into Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park under the watchful eye of security guards as safety precautions are beefed up around the popular Christmas festival
Rucksacks and women’s handbags are searched at the entrance of London’s popular Winter Wonderland festive market
Metal barriers are erected outside Birmingham’s Christmas market near the Bullring shopping centre to protect visitors
Large flower pots are lowered into position in the Yorkshire city of Leeds to stop vehicles mounting the pavement
A large concrete block sits on the pavement outside an entrance to Edinburgh’s Christmas market to stop vehicles smashing their way in and harming visitors
Workers lower barriers at Bath city centre in an effort to keep members of the public safe from potential vehicle terror attacks
A vehicle barrier is erected outside Birmingham’s Christmas market with a connecting wall of concrete bollards
Long steel barriers have also been put up in Hyde Park to prevent potential lorry or van attacks mimicking the atrocity in Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz Christmas market last year
CCTV cameras are scattered throughout Winter Wonderlan, one of London’s most popular Christmas attractions which covers a quarter of Hyde Park
Concrete bollards create a protective wall around Manchester Christmas market, mere months after the city was hit by a devastating terror attack at the Manchester Arena
Greater Manchester Police patrol around the market after pledging to put more officers on the ground to keep shoppers safe
Metal bollards and a concrete wall is place around Birmingham’s festive market to stop potential vehicle attacks
Large metal gates with concrete bases have been put up near the entrance to London’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
A security gate, stopping vehicles from coming and going, is erected at Manchester’s market, along with a concrete barrier
Concrete bollards create a barrier in front of the Leeds Christmas market in an effort to stop vehicles mounting the curb
Concrete blocks surround Bath Abbey in fear of a vehicle mounting the curb and driving into pedestrians
A metal barrier is erected at an entrance to Leeds’ festive market as police call on organisers to increase their security
A metal gate is connected by a wall of concrete barriers outside Manchester’s Christmas market as part of new strict security measures
A Metropolitan Police 4X4 drives through Hyde Park while patrolling the Winter Wonderland site earlier this week
Berlin terror attack: 12 killed at Christmas market
Twelve people were killed and dozens wounded when ISIS fanatic Anis Amri ploughed a lorry into the Breitscheidplatz Square Christmas market, in Berlin on December 19 2016.
Amri, a Tunisian, murdered the lorry’s original Polish driver, and then hijacked the vehicle, leaving his body in the cab.
Twelve people were killed and dozens wounded when ISIS fanatic Anis Amri ploughed a lorry into the Breitscheidplatz Square Christmas market, in Berlin on December 19 2016
He then targeted innocent people in the German capital, with only the automatic locking system on the vehicle’s brakes bringing it to a stop and preventing further carnage.
After the attack, he managed to flee Berlin and travel through at least three countries before being gunned down in northern Italy.
Italian police shot Amri dead in Milan, days later on December 23, after an international man hunt.