Munich Oktoberfest fairgrounds closed after bomb threat and deadly explosion

German police close Oktoberfest after bomb threat

On Wednesday morning, German police closed the Oktoberfest fairgrounds following a bomb threat from the suspected perpetrator of an explosion in northern Munich, city officials confirmed.

Authorities believe that the explosion at a residential building in Munich was deliberately set on fire as part of a domestic dispute, leading to at least one fatality. It remains unclear whether the deceased individual was the suspected perpetrator or another party involved.

A missing person, who is not considered a threat to the public, is currently being sought in connection to the incident.

Specialized teams were dispatched to the scene to deal with potential booby traps in the building, while images from the area showed a burned-out van amidst the chaos.

The discovery of a bomb threat targeting Oktoberfest was made through a letter from the alleged perpetrator, prompting a thorough search of the fairgrounds for any explosive devices. Workers were asked to vacate the area as a precaution.

As a result of the ongoing situation, the festival will remain closed at least until 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday, disrupting the annual event that began on September 20 and was scheduled to run until October 5.

Oktoberfest, known as the world’s largest beer festival, typically draws up to 6 million visitors annually. However, security concerns have been heightened following the recent incident and bomb threat.

In a tragic historical parallel, Oktoberfest was previously targeted in 1980 by a deadly neo-Nazi attack. The bombing, orchestrated by student Gundolf Koehler, a supporter of a banned far-right group, claimed 13 lives, including three children, and left over 200 people injured.