The widely known Oktoberfest festival was shut down following a fatal explosion and bomb threat in Germany. A police operation is ongoing in Lerchenau, northern Munich, where experts rushed to a residential building set ablaze with explosives, possibly related to the festival. The festival grounds were sealed off after a bomb threat was discovered in a letter from the suspected individual. Specialized teams worked to neutralize potential booby traps, with images showing a burnt-out van nearby covered in extinguishing foam.
Authorities have combed the fairgrounds for additional explosive devices and evacuated workers from the area. The festival closure is extended until at least 5 pm local time on Wednesday. The street where the incident occurred was locked down after the suspect allegedly ignited a fire at his parents’ residence during a family dispute. Emergency services responded to flames engulfing the building early in the morning.
Initially, authorities found an injured person possibly linked to the incident, who later succumbed to injuries. Another individual, deemed non-threatening, remains missing. Explosive devices were discovered in the building, prompting special forces to intervene. A nearby school was closed as a precaution amid the unfolding events.
Investigators are exploring potential connections to other locations, including the festival site at Theresienwiese. Munich Police reported that the residential building was intentionally set ablaze amid a family dispute, leading to the tragic death of one individual. Efforts to defuse explosive traps are ongoing, with investigations spanning various directions, including possible links to other Munich sites like Theresienwiese.
Heavily armed officers from the Southern Bavaria Special Forces (SEK) raided the suspect’s apartment in Starnberg, ensuring its safety before entry. Oktoberfest, known for drawing millions of visitors annually, holds the title of the world’s largest beer festival. Past attendance figures have ranged from six to seven million guests, with a peak of 7.2 million attendees in 2023.
In a grim historical parallel, Oktoberfest faced a deadly neo-Nazi attack in 1980, claiming multiple lives and leaving hundreds injured. The festival’s significance and popularity continue to be overshadowed by this tragic incident from the past.
