From Sydney to New York, millions of people around the world have bid farewell to a tumultuous 2016 and welcomed the New Year.

Major cities heightened security for the New Year celebrations following the deadly terror attacks in Berlin and Nice.

In the German capital, police arrested a man who shouted "bomb, bomb, bomb" among thousands of people at the Brandenburg Gate, which was kept under heavy security.

Image: Berlin has been under heavy security for New Year's celebrations, like much of Europe

The city suffered its worst attack in decades when a hijacked lorry was driven by a Tunisian suspect into a busy Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring scores of others.

Across Europe, thousands of officers patrolled the streets, as concrete blocks were placed around tourist spots and other sensitive sites.


Sydney welcomes New Year

Security was also ramped up in Cologne after hundreds of women were sexually assaulted and robbed last year outside the central train station, allegedly by foreign men.

Image: Fireworks light the sky over the Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow

In Paris, where terror attacks claimed the lives of 130 people in November 2015, revellers flocked to the Champs Elysees.

Armed soldiers patrolled tourist destinations, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre museum.

In Milan, where police shot dead the Berlin truck attacker, security checks were set up around the main square, while lorries were banned from the centre of Rome and Naples.

New Zealand welcomes 2017

Madrid deployed an extra 1,600 police and also controlled access to the city's central Puerta del Sol square.

Security fears were sparked in Helsinki after four people were hurt when a car ploughed into pedestrians, although Finnish police later said it appeared to be an accident.

Tokyo ditches fireworks to welcome 2017

In New York's Times Square, hundreds of thousands of merrymakers witnessed the descent of the kaleidoscopic New Year's Eve ball.

At the stroke of midnight, it touched home, illuminating a giant "2017" sign and sending a shower of fireworks into the sky.

Image: Revellers in Times Square for the New Year's celebration in Manhattan

In the Indian capital New Delhi and many other of the country's cities, security was tightened around shopping centres and restaurants.

Dubai welcomes 2017

The South Pacific island nations of Tonga and Samoa were among the first places in the world to see the New Year with fireworks at 10am UK time.

New Zealand started its New Year party an hour later, with a countdown at Auckland's Sky Tower followed by a firework and laser show.

Sydney ushered in 2017 with a dazzling fireworks extravaganza over the city's iconic harbour - a show watched by an estimated 1.5 million people.

Hong Kong celebrates New Year

Tokyo bid "sayonara" to 2016 at 3pm UK time, with temple bells echoing and revellers releasing white balloons into the sky.

North Korea - where New Year is the only holiday in the Gregorian calendar citizens are allowed to celebrate - organised a display of fireworks and music in capital Pyongyang.

In Hong Kong, an elaborate display of fireworks lit up the sky above Victoria Harbour as thousands gathered along the shore to watch the show, and Beijing also welcomed the New Year in style.