Security measures have been increased in Taksim, where New Year’s Eve celebrations are intense, with the approach of the new year. As part of the security measures, a Mobile Command Center truck was set up in Gezi Park by the Istanbul Police Department. Thanks to the City Security Management System, real-time monitoring can be done with more than 15,000 cameras throughout Istanbul. At the same time, helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and personnel’s body cameras also transmit images to the command center in real-time so that police teams can intervene immediately in possible negative situations.
Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız inspected the Mobile Command Center by paying a visit. Yıldız, in his statement, congratulated journalists on the new year and said, “Our whole security organization has made plans 24/7. We have taken security measures in 39 districts, especially in Beyoğlu, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Bakırköy, and Fatih. With 10,458 teams, we want our 55,325 personnel to spread out over 24 hours so that our citizens can enter the new year in peace and security.” Yıldız later visited the teams on Istiklal Avenue to get information about the operations.
Extensive security measures have been taken in Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue. Police teams are checking every point that leads to the square and the avenue. If individuals are suspected, they are stopped by the Security Teams for a pat-down search, followed by General Information Gathering (GBT) screenings. In addition, mounted police officers and police dogs from the Riot Police Branch Mounted Unit Group also patrol Istiklal Avenue to support security measures.
Overall, the security measures have been intensified in Taksim as New Year’s Eve approaches, with a Mobile Command Center truck being installed in Gezi Park and more than 15,000 cameras monitoring Istanbul through the City Security Management System. Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız has emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and peace of citizens during the new year celebrations, with security personnel on standby 24/7 in various districts of the city. In addition to the police presence in Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue, mounted police officers and police dogs are also supporting the security measures to ensure a safe environment for the public.
