n-b-c's bill neely reports. :57-1:09 1:19-1:33 two attacks planned on two capital cities this new year in europe and turkey. police have arrested two men believed to be isis bombers who came from syria and planned attacks on bars near the main square in ankara, where crowds traditionally gather to celebrate new year. police found suicide vests and explosive devices and what prosecutors describe as an isis safe house. because two months ago isis suicide bombers killed more than 100 people at a peace rally there. meanwhile, further north in belgium, two men were arrested on suspicion of planing to attack new year crowds on the main square of its capital brussels. belgian media say they were members of a motorbike gang called the kamikaze riders. now in french, the work kamikaze, or kamikaze, means suicide bomber. no weapons or explosives were found and brussels is going ahead with its new year's celebrations and fireworks. "i think people want to celebrate actually. people are looking forward to go out, still. we are going to have some security measures, we are going to watch out for tha

bill neely reports on birth pl.ill neely reports on christmas in bethlehem. >> reporter: they are celebrating christmas in bethlehem, but not like they used to. there is still powerful emotion at the grotto where it's believed jesus was born. >> so exciting. >> reporter: but fear has meant tens of thousands of christians are staying away because this center of faith is also now a cradle of violence. palestinian youths confront israeli troops in regular battles here. the city of peace, anything but. >> bethlehem is the capital of christmas, the capital of nativity. the city of peace. this city is besieged. that means there is no peace. >> reporter: palestinians join a wave of stoppings of attacks on israelis, two more today that have seen dozens killed. an israeli man buried today after he was stabbed in jerusalem. so there is lots of room at bethlehem's inns. tourism struggling in a city that depends on it. >> a little bit sad christmas. we are trying our best to be happy. >> reporter: americans, too, are here in mu

n-b-c's bill neely reports. << two attacks planned on two capital cities this new year in europe and turkey. police have arrested two men believed to be isis bombers who came from syria and planned attacks on bars near the main square in ankararawhere crcrds traditionally gatatr to celebrate new year. police found s scide vests and explosive devices and what prosecutors describe as an isis safe house. they're on alert in ankara because two months ago isis suicide bombers killed more than 100 people at a peace rally there. meanwhile, further north in belgium, two men were arrested on suspicion of planing to attack new year crowds on the main square of its capital brbrsels. bebeian media say they were members of a motorbike gang called the kamikaze riders. now in french, the work kamikaze, or kamikaze, means suicide bomber. found and brussels is going ahead with its new year's celebrations and fireworks. (sot/ pablo saccomano/ manager's assistant at club la vilaine :57-1:09) "i think people want to celebrate actually. people are looking forward to go out, still. we are going to have so

nbc's bill neely has more. >> reporter: across europe, police are on high alert. in belgium two men have been arrested for planning suicide attacks in this historic square due to be filled with new year crowds. authorities canceling fireworks, siting terrorist threat. in turkey, more arrests after a suicide vest and a backpack filled with explosives were found at an isis safe house in the capital. two men suspected of planning a new year massacre. and in paris, authorities are scaling down celebrations, canceling fireworks, fearing a repeat of november's attacks. in london too, security is tight. police in london have considered a terror attack highly likely for the past year. but based on new intelligence, they've now doubled the number of police officers on these streets. the threat is real. for life for planning suicide attacks in london. they tested explosives in their backyard. they were isis supporters. radicalized like the comin san bernardino who carried out their attack. europe is a continent on edge. bill neely, nbc news,londnd. >>> at least 14 people ar

bill neely, nbc news. >>> when we come back, last-second shoppers racing to beat the clock. packed. we are also tracking a lot of special we'll tell you where right now. >>> this just in from the folks at norad tracking santa's sleigh making his way around the world where it's already christmas in many places. so santa has dropped off presents for good little boys and girls in sydney and moscow, athens and cairo, and he's on his way here right now. so hop in those pjs, get to bed when mom and dad said so, so santa can make those special deliveries while you are fast asleep. >>> santa is on time but shoppers are not. many still in stores right now looking for last-second gifts. while they're there, they are likely finding major bargains thanks to those unseasonably warm temperatures. nbc's olivia sterns explains. >> reporter: the race retailers hoping last-minute shoppers would finally come to their stores. >> i have to do it now or it won't get done. >> reporter: after a season where more and more americans are choosing to buy online. about 2 million americans estimated to be pickin

nbc's bill neely has our report. >> reporter: across europe, police are on high alert. in belgium, two men have been arrested for planning suicide attacks in this historic square. due to be filled with new year crowds. authorities canceling fireworks, citing a terrorist threat. in turkey, more arrests. after a suicide vest and a backpack filled with explosives were found at an isis safe house in the capital. two men suspected of planning a new year massacre. and in paris, authorities are scaling down celebrations, fearing a repeat of november's attacks. in london, too, security is tight. police in london have considered a terror attack highly likely for the past year. but based on new intelligence, they have now doubled the number of police officers on these streets. the threat is real. this british couple was jailed for life today for planning suicide attacks in london. they tested explosives in their backyard. they were isis supporters. radicalized like the couple in san bernardino who carried out their attack. europe tonight is a continent on edge. bill neely, nbc ne

our report from nbc's bill neely. >> reporter: ramadi is under siege. and its attackers say they will wrench it from the grip of isis within days. there is fighting. iraqi tanks advancing steadily. an assault backed by dozen of air-strikes in a city where hundreds of american troops died in the war against saddam. the enemy now, a few hundred isis fighters using ieds, snipers and suicide bombers. but the iraqis' confidence is high. from the celebrating is coming, god willing. ramadi fell to isis in may. iraq's army humiliated, retreating in disarray. looking back now, sunni tribal fighters filming their own attack on what is a sunni city. the shia militias we filmed in the summer, held back by iraq's government for fear they would massacre sunni civilians. a u.s. military spokesperson said the fall of ramadi is now inevitable. though it will be a tough fight. defeating isis here would be a major blow to a terror group which in recent months has lost two cities in iraq and much ground. bill neely, nbc news, london. >>> still ahead here tonight, a private

bill neely, nbc news. >>> when we come back, last-second shoppers racing to beat the clock. even at this late hour, some stores are packed. we are also tracking a lot of special deliveries on the way. we'll tell you where santa's sleigh is right now. thousands of people came out today to run the race for retirement. so we asked them... are you completely prepared for retirement? okay, mostly prepared? could you save 1% more of your income? it doesn't sound like much, but saving an additional 1% now, could make a big difference over time. i'm going to be even better about saving. you can do it, it helps in the long run. prudential bring your challenges >>> this just in from the folks at norad tracking santa's sleigh making his way around the world where it's already christmas in many places. so santa has dropped off presents for good little boys and girls in sydney and moscow, athens and cairo, and he's on his way here right now. so hop in those pjs, get to bed when mom and dad said so, so santa can make those special deliveries while you are fast asleep. >>> santa is on time

you would never ever guess that that girl would have ties to isis. >> that was bill neely reporting.important to note that there is no evidence that isis directed malik or that they knew who she was. >>> do you recognize this man? police in montgomery county hope you do. they say he rob abed a wawa. the man allegedly handed the cashier a note demanding money. he indicated he had a gun. the clerk gave him the cash. if you recognize him police in lower gwyneth would like to hear from you. we call them heroes. firefighters do more than rescue people. volunteer firefighters learned new techniques to help them save lives in a number of situations like building collapses or if someone like a contractor is hurt and stuck underground. >> confined space rescues, learning how to package people, get victims out, do it in a safe way that the rescuers are safe and that the victims are safe at the same time. >> the special operations training prop by the way simulates a number of conditions that crews can face on any given day. today comcast will host its first diversity and inclusion summit. abou

>> bill neely in pakistan tonight. as we said at the top of the show, president obama will address the nation in a rare primetime address a little over one hour from now about how he plans to keep the country safe from terrorists. a new msnbc telemundo poll taken before the attack illustrates some of that fear that exists. 36% of americans said their biggest worry was a terrorist attack. 31% said it was gun violence. nbc's ron allen is at the white house tonight with more on the president's address. ron? >> reporter: good evening, kate. this may be a defining moment for the president. widely criticized for underestimating the threat of terrorism. the president will try to reassure the public that that the u.s. and its coalition partners are stepping up the fight against isis in iraq and syria. we expect the president to tell us the latest about what happened in san bernardino, what he knows about any connection to isis, and how this latest attack fits into the overall fight of global terrorism. earlier today, the attor

bill neely, nbc news. >>> when we come back, last-second shoppers racing to beat the clock. even at this late hour, some stores are packed. we are also tracking a lot of special deliveries on the way. we'll tell you where i use what' s already inside me to reach my goals. so i liked when my doctor told me i may reach my blood sugar and a1c goals by activating what' s within me. trulicity is not insulin. it helps activate my body to do what it' s supposed to do release its own insulin. trulicity responds when my blood sugar rises. i take it once a week, and it works 24/7. it comes in an easy-to-use pen and i may even lose a little weight. trulicity is a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. it should be used along with diet and exercise. trulicity is not recommended as the first medicine to treat diabetes and should not be used by people with severe stomach or intestinal problems, or people with type i diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. trulicity is not insulin and has not been studied with long-acting insulin. do

nbc's bill neely has more. >> reporter: across europe police are on high alert. in belgium two men have been arrested for planning suicide attacks in his historic square. due to be filled with new year crowds. authorities canceling fireworks, citing a terrorist threat. in turkey, more arrests after a suicide vest and a backpack filled with explosives were found at an isis safe house in the capital ankara. two men suspected of planning a new year massacre. and in paris, authorities are scaling down celebrations, canceling fireworks, fearing a repeat of november's attacks. in london too, security is tight. police in london have considered a terror attack highly likely for the past year. but based on new intelligence, they've now doubled the number of police officers on these streets. the threat is real. this british couple was jailed for life for planning suicide attacks in london. they tested explosives in their backyard. they were isis supporters. radicalized like the couple in san bernardino who carried out their attack. europe is a continent on edge. bill neely

that was bill neely reporting. we'll be right back with another look the death of an iowa man who drowned at the lake of the ozarks in 2014. what the special prosecutor said at a news conference this morning. good afternoon, thanks for joining us. i'm megan reuther... a missouri state trooper is charged in the death of a clive man who drowned while in custody at the lake of the ozarks in 2014. at a press conference in missouri this morning, a special prosecutor charged trooper anthony piercy with involuntary manslaughter, a class c felony in the death of brandon ellingson. ellingson drowned in may of 2014 after falling out of piercy's boat while handcuffed. this morning, the special prosecutor said piercy recklessly caused the death of brandon ellingson. piercy is expected to turn himself into authorities today. our justin surrency is following on our evening newscasts. today family and friends will gather at a church to remember an iowa state student who was killed crossing lincoln way in ames on monday. visitatio

for the latest we turn to nbc's bill neely who is live for us in islamabad.what are intelligence officials looking for, what are they finding this morning? >> reporter: yes, good morning, chris. tashfeen malik is as much a mystery here in pakistan as she is in the united states, certainly to pakistan's intelligence agency, because she wasn't on any government or law enforcement watch list. she'd done nothing wrong here, or in saudi arabia, where she grew up. she was a very private person. we have as you said very few photographs of her. one of them being on her pakistani i.d. card, which she had to have. one of her college friends at moultan university told "the washington post" in fact that tashfeen destroyed most of the photographs that she had that showed her not wearing a veil, and that friend also said that in her years at university, she became more and more deeply religious and conservative. we know that her father is an engineer with a conservative and religion man but certainly initially, tashfeen wore a head scarf, yes, but often western clothes, bu

bill neely nbc news london. >> at least 14 dead in missouri from historic flooding. they don't know how many homes destroyed and there is no let up in sight. 13 killed in cars when rising flood waters swept them away. one kayaker figured a boat was the best way to travel and captured this footage of a flooded high school. only the tops of the football uprights remain visible. nearly nothing visible on the school's school board. parts of the mareeramec river are. ethan remains in mexico city after a mexican judge issued an injunction blocking his immediate deportation. the injunction is expected to take weeks if not longer to resolve. texas sheriff dee anderson says they expected to take couch into custody yesterday but added we are patient people. we'll be waiting. this is it. tomorrow we officially enter an election year. strong new language from donald trump, candidates brawling over early states. and today a crucial mile marker. edward, it is the last day for fourth quarter fundraising. and we've got some new estimates in who's doing well and who's not. >> richard

back to you. >> bill neely reporting for nbc. >>> the u.s.ustice department will investigate the practices of the chicago police department following the death of an african-american teenager. attorney general loretta lynch announced the civil rights investigation this morning. it will focus on the use of deadly force, including racial disparities and what that force -- and when that force is applied. just two weeks ago, the city released video of a white police officer shooting 17-year-old laquan in october of 2014. the teen was hit 16 times and died. >> our goal in this investigation, as in all of our pattern of practice investigations is not to focus on individual bus to improve systems, to ensure that officers are being provide with the tools that they need, including training, policy guidance and equipment to be more effective, to partner with civilians and strengthen public safety. >> officer jason van dyke faces a first-degree murder charge in the teen's death and the mayor forced the police superintendent to resign. >>> and checking o