85,000 gather to welcome New Year in Helsinki

The New Year celebrations in Helsinki attracted a crowd of about 85,000 at the Citizens’ Square, said the event organisers.

The Helsinki police, however, put the number at 70,000, reported the local media.

Well-known artists took to the stage to perform during the celebrations which reached a fever pitch when the fireworks lighted the sky.

The Southwest Finland police said around 20,000 people gathered to witness the fireworks display in the coastal city of Turku. The police said the event passed without any incident.

The Helsinki police and Southwest Finland police both said they dealt with incidents of assault, drunkenness, and fireworks related disturbances.

The Emergency Rescue Centre said it received 3,250 emergency calls between 6:00 pm and midnight on the New Year’s Eve.