Bellevue taking extra precautions this holiday season due to recent terrorism

Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane will experience 30 days of increased security, thanks to recent terrorist attacks.

The city’s nightly Christmas show returns Friday night, this time with extra precautions being taken.

Bellevue Police Captain Debbie Ingram says the department wants to make sure the large crowds of people that attend the event do not become victims of a Bastille Day-like attack, which left 86 people dead and 434 injured in Nice, France earlier this year.

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“We pay attention to all the events and we look at what we have and compare it,” Ingram said. “If there are any comparisons, then we try to make sure that we do all contingency matters so that we can prevent anything bad from happening.”

Ingram told KIRO 7 hard barriers will be set up. Trucks and law enforcement vehicles will be used to block vehicles from entering the parade route. The parade begins on NE 8th Street at Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square sky bridge and runs down Bellevue Way.

The additional security, which is being paid for by the company that puts on the show, follows a year of deadly attacks. In Nice, France, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a cargo truck down a promenade on July 14. It’s because of that planned attack — and the possibility of drunk and confused drivers — that parade-goers will see more barricades and police.

“Security has always been our first priority with any event at The Bellevue Collection. That includes Snowflake Lane. Every year we work closely with the Bellevue Police department on Snowflake Lane and are taking extra precautionary measures this year per their recommendations for enhanced security,” said Jennifer Leavitt of Kemper Development Company.

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Up to 7,000 people attend Snowflake Lane every evening, KIRO 7 reports.

Ingram says people being injured by a drunk or disoriented driver is more likely than a planned attack in Bellevue.

But there have been reports of Nice-inspired attacks in the U.S.

On Monday, an Uber driver from Brooklyn was arrested on charges of allegedly traveling to Turkey and Yemen to try and join ISIS. CBS reports the 37-year-old man supported the idea of an attack in Times Square using a garbage truck.

When he returned to New York City after failing to join ISIS abroad, Naji is alleged to have shared his plans for a local attack with a confidential informant similar to the attack in Nice, France for Times Square.

Snowflake Lane comes to life along Bellevue Way each night at 7 p.m. starting this Friday through New Year’s Eve.

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