(VOVworld) - Moscow’s Red Square, traditionally a place where people gather to ring in the New Year, will be closed to revellers on Thursday, Dec 31, amid mounting security concerns.

People walk across Red Square, with the Kremlin's Spasskaya (Saviour) Tower (R) and St. Basil's Cathedral (L) seen in the background, in central Moscow. (Photo: AFP)

This year, police will turn back everyone showing up at the square for the countdown to midnight sounded by the chimes on the Kremlin’s tower clock, Moscow security chief Alexei Mayorov was quoted as saying on city hall’s website.
The reason given for the unprecedented closure was the filming of a live concert for state-run Channel One television that only a select audience will be allowed to attend. Mayorov said there are a lot of other places around where people can have a wonderful time.
Metal detectors manned by security guards have been installed at the entrances to shopping centres and parking lot attendants have been given permission to check the trunks of suspicious vehicles.
Russia's main television tower Ostankino was sealed off with barbed wire this month, additional CCTV cameras have been installed in pedestrian areas of Moscow and police now patrol metro stations with sniffer dogs.