Oktoberfest Shut On Wednesday Following Bomb Threat
Munich’s Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival, was shut down for most of Wednesday following a bomb threat tied to a deadly explosion in the city’s north.
Police launched a large-scale emergency operation after an explosion at a house in the Lerchenau district revealed explosives and booby traps. A seriously injured man was found at a nearby lake and later died. Another person is missing but is not considered a threat. Authorities believe the fire was started deliberately during a family dispute, and special forces were deployed to defuse traps inside the building. Shots and explosions were reportedly heard at the scene.
Munich police are investigating whether the incident is connected to other locations, including Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is held. “We are currently investigating all possibilities,” police said, adding that the closure of the festival grounds was a precautionary measure. Mayor Dieter Reiter confirmed that the festival grounds would stay closed until at least 5:00 pm local time, while search operations continued. Oktoberfest's official website labeled the situation a “bomb threat” and said updates would follow later in the day.
An earlier online post claiming the explosions were linked to the leftist group Antifa was dismissed by police as fake and likely written by “copycats.”
Oktoberfest, which started on September 20th and runs until October 5th, has already drawn over 3.5 million visitors this year. While the incident hasn't been directly linked to the festival, the scare has prompted heightened security and caution.
