MUNICH, Germany – Authorities shuttered Germany’s world-famous Oktoberfest on Wednesday following a bomb threat linked to a deadly family dispute that left one person dead and a residential building rigged with explosives in flames.
Munich police closed the iconic beer festival grounds until 17:00 as bomb disposal experts conducted security sweeps across the Theresienwiese site, which attracts millions of visitors annually.
The crisis began before dawn when explosions erupted from a burning house in Munich’s northern Lerchenau district. Police commandos rushed to the scene where they discovered a torched van on the street and a residential building deliberately set ablaze.
“According to current information, the residential building was deliberately set on fire as a result of a family dispute,” Munich police said in an official statement.
A severely injured person found near the scene later died, while another individual remains missing. Police emphasized there is “no indication that they pose a threat” to the public.
Explosive devices discovered
Bomb disposal units were deployed after authorities discovered “explosive devices in the affected building,” requiring specialized forces for safe removal. A column of smoke rose over the morning sky as emergency crews worked to contain the situation.
Local media reports suggest the deceased may have caused the explosion at his parents’ home before taking his own life, though police have not confirmed these details.
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter announced the unprecedented closure in an Instagram video, stating: “An individual threatened the Oktoberfest, and the police and the coordinating committee unanimously agreed that we cannot take the risk of allowing people to attend under these circumstances.”
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported that the deceased suspect had issued a written threat against the festival, prompting authorities to take immediate precautionary measures.
“Security sweeps are currently underway in the restricted access areas around the festival grounds,” police confirmed, requesting all staff to evacuate the premises.
World’s largest beer festival at risk
The 2025 Oktoberfest, running from 20 September to 5 October, is considered the world’s largest beer festival. Last year’s event welcomed 6.7 million visitors, generating significant economic impact for the Bavarian capital.
Mayor Reiter warned that if security searches are not completed by the 17:00 deadline, the festival may remain closed longer. “If this is not achieved, I will make another announcement, and the Oktoberfest will not be opened today,” he said.
The incident marks the first time in recent memory that the centuries-old festival has been closed due to a security threat, highlighting growing concerns about public safety at major events across Germany.
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