Explosive Threat Halts Oktoberfest
Germany’s famous Oktoberfest was put on hold for a short time on Wednesday due to threats made by a man who had allegedly set his parents’ home on fire while they were inside. He was later discovered with a backpack filled with explosives.
According to the police, the 57-year-old man had injured both his mother and daughter, rigged their home with traps, and then took his own life at a nearby lake in the peaceful northern Lerchenau district of the city.
They reported that he was still alive when found, but in critical condition, and unfortunately, he passed away shortly after.
Authorities reported that the suspect was “carrying a backpack, which, based on the latest information, is believed to contain an explosive device that needs to be safely deactivated.”
Additionally, a written threat directed at Oktoberfest was discovered, prompting Munich officials to temporarily close the festival grounds and conduct a thorough sweep for explosives.
Munich’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, later announced that the festival would reopen at 5:30 PM local time (1530 GMT).
In an Instagram update, Reiter mentioned that police had “assessed the situation and given the all clear.”
The alarm was raised early in the morning in the northern part of the city when loud explosions were heard from a burning house, leading police commandos to rush to the scene, where three vehicles were also engulfed in flames.
Police described a shocking and tragic “family dispute,” with unverified reports suggesting that the suspect had booby-trapped the house with explosives, reportedly hand grenades connected to tripwires.
They also mentioned that two other individuals were hurt—the man’s 81-year-old mother and his 21-year-old daughter, who holds German-Brazilian citizenship. Both are currently receiving medical care in the hospital.
Authorities are investigating whether anyone else might be inside the building.
To ensure safety, police established a large perimeter around the house, from which smoke was seen rising into the sky. They evacuated nearby residents and even closed a local high school.
Commandos also conducted a search at the home of the deceased suspect in Starnberg, a town located southwest of Munich.
Oktoberfest, taking place this year from September 20 to October 5, is renowned as the largest folk festival in the world, attracting 6.7 million visitors in 2024.
This event has faced its share of violence in the past, with the most tragic incident occurring in 1980 when a far-right group set off a pipe bomb, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and injuring over 200 others.
Explosive Threat Halts Oktoberfest
