Security officials abruptly shut down the Munich Oktoberfest fairgrounds on Wednesday after police received a bomb threat linked to a deadly explosion in northern Munich earlier the same day.
According to Munich police, the threat was discovered in a letter believed to have been written by the suspected perpetrator of the blast. The explosion occurred inside a residential building that had been deliberately set on fire, leaving at least one person dead. Authorities indicated the incident appeared connected to a domestic dispute, though they have not confirmed whether the deceased individual was the suspect or another person.
Police reported that specialized bomb disposal teams were deployed to secure the building and neutralize potential booby traps. A burned-out van was also discovered near the site of the explosion. Another person tied to the case remains unaccounted for, though officials stressed that this individual is not considered a danger to the wider public.
The bomb threat triggered an immediate security sweep at Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, which typically attracts up to six million visitors annually. Workers were ordered to evacuate the grounds as investigators searched for explosive devices. Munich city officials said the festival would remain closed at least until 5 p.m. local time.
"This was a necessary precaution to ensure the safety of visitors and staff," a police spokesperson told reporters, emphasizing that public safety remained the top priority.
The Associated Press reported that authorities are treating the threat as credible and directly linked to the earlier explosion. Meanwhile, German broadcaster ARD noted that while no explosive devices had yet been found at Oktoberfest, heightened security measures would remain in place throughout the day.
This year's Oktoberfest began on September 20 and is scheduled to run until October 5. The festival has a storied history of both celebration and tragedy. In 1980, a neo-Nazi bombing at the event killed 13 people, including three children, and injured more than 200 others. That attack remains one of the deadliest acts of far-right violence in postwar Germany.
Officials have not provided further details about the suspect in Wednesday's incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
Originally published on IBTimes
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