As New Year approaches, armed officers from the New York Police Department Strategic Response Group are standing guard at Times Square ahead of the annual celebrations in Manhattan, New York, US. /VCG Photo

More officers and sniffer dogs will be deployed throughout the area to provide security at Sunday’s “ball drop” celebration, a tradition that dates back to 1907 and may attract up to two million people to the streets around Times Square. /VCG Photo

Observation teams trained to spot snipers and officers with specialized training to stop suicide bombers will also be at the square, officials have said. /VCG Photo