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Pittsburgh rings in new year with First Night celebration; extra safety measures in place

PITTSBURGH — Tens of thousands of people flocked to downtown Pittsburgh to ring in 2017 at the Highmark First Night celebration -- and the city’s public-safety department took many extra steps to ensure it’s a safe celebration.

Pittsburgh public safety officials said they know holiday crowds are historically easy targets.

In the last six months in Europe, terrorists used 18-wheeler trucks to plow into crowds, killing 98 people. On Saturday,

dozens of people were killed at a nightclub in Istabul

, Turkey, in what province's governor described as a terror attack.

In response, Pittsburgh’s department of public safety announced changes prior to the city's celebration.

"With the terrorist events overseas, instead of using wooden barricades this time, the public will see heavy machinery from the city's public works dump trucks filled with sand,” said Wendell Hissrich, director of public safety.

They also beefed up security with local and federal law enforcement, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

"Come down and enjoy everything Pittsburgh has to offer,” Acting Chief Scott Schubert, of the Pittsburgh police, said on Friday. “We're going to do everything in our power to keep people safe."

Police are urging anyone who sees something out of the ordinary to let officers know.

“We'll also institute the zero tolerance. No second chances. If you come to town and you misbehave, you're either going to be arrested or cited,” Hissrich said.

There isn’t a bag policy at First Night, but if you leave your belongings unattended, police said they will be confiscated.

No parking rules will be enforced after 3 p.m. Dec. 31 on Wood Street from 6th Street to Liberty Avenue. Street closures will be as follows:

10 a.m. Dec. 31 – 2 a.m. Jan. 1 

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Stanwix Street from Liberty to Penn avenues: 10 a.m. Dec. 31 - 2 a.m. Jan. 1

12 p.m. Dec. 31 – 2 a.m. Jan. 1 

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Penn Ave. from 10th to 6th streets.

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Penn Ave. from Sixth to Stanwix Street.

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Stanwix in both directions between Liberty Ave. and Ft. Duquesne Blvd.

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7th St. from Liberty and Ft. Duquesne.

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8th St./Tito Way from Liberty to Ft. Duquesne.

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9th St. from Liberty Ave to Ft Duquesne.

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5th Ave from Liberty to Penn.

Cox Media Group

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