by Alex Lockie and Bryan Logan

Sanitation trucks filled with sand acting as barricades along Fifth Avenue outside Trump Tower in New York City on November 8. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Massive dump trucks filled with sand will line the streets surrounding New Year's Eve celebrations in New York City this weekend. The 20-ton vehicles will hold an additional 15 tons of sand, the Associated Press reported Thursday night. The trucks provide a dense, protective barrier in the event of a bombing. It is part of comprehensive antiterrorism strategies law-enforcement officials deploy to ensure public safety. The Times Square New Year's Eve event is already a heavily policed affair, but the stakes are even higher this year after a series of terrorist attacks erupted in Europe — some of which involved the use of heavy vehicles.