Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest faced an unexpected delay today as German authorities ordered the temporary closure of its grounds. The decision came after a credible bomb threat emerged, which investigators quickly connected to a residential explosion earlier that morning.
The unfolding drama began around 4:40 a.m. when emergency services responded to reports of a burning building and explosions in northern Munich. Upon arrival, firefighters and medics discovered multiple vehicles damaged by fire outside the house. Inside, they found “explosive traps” and a chilling, yet unspecified, bomb threat.
Authorities now believe this chaotic sequence of events stemmed from a domestic dispute. Police reports indicate that a 57-year-old German man, whose identity has not been released, was responsible for the threat. He allegedly shot his mother and daughter, then set his parents’ home ablaze before taking his own life at a nearby lake. Both women are reported to have survived the attack.
The revelation of the bomb threat triggered an immediate and extensive search of the Theresienwiese, Oktoberfest’s bustling venue. This led to a multi-hour delay in the festival’s opening, as approximately 500 officers and specialized bomb-sniffing dogs meticulously swept the entire area for any danger.
Following an exhaustive search, the city of Munich confirmed that no suspicious items were found. The all-clear was given, and the festival officially reopened its gates at 5:30 p.m., allowing the celebrations to resume.
Oktoberfest, currently in its 190th year, is a massive attraction, drawing around 6.7 million visitors annually. The festival previously saw cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Historically, it has also been a target, most notably in 1980 when a terrorist attack claimed the lives of 13 people at one of its exits.