German authorities made the rare decision on Wednesday to close the Oktoberfest grounds in Munich, citing a bomb threat. This alarming development was reportedly connected to an explosion that occurred earlier in a residential part of the city.
According to a statement from the Munich police, emergency medical teams were dispatched to a burning building in northern Munich earlier that day after residents reported hearing explosions. A man, severely wounded and later pronounced dead, was discovered near the house. Inside the building, investigators found “explosive traps.”
Initially, authorities suspected the fire was related to a domestic dispute. As part of their investigation, officers began checking various locations associated with the burning building, including the Theresienwiese, the sprawling fairgrounds where Oktoberfest is held. The precise connection between the house fire and the Theresienwiese site was not immediately clear.
Tens of thousands of people are currently in Munich to celebrate the 190th edition of Oktoberfest. Authorities announced that the renowned festival would remain closed until at least 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
Last year, Oktoberfest attracted approximately 6.7 million visitors. The festival was previously canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A tragic terrorist attack in 1980 at one of the festival exits claimed the lives of 13 people.