Oktoberfest Closed Following Verified Bomb Threat Linked to Deadly Incident in Northern Munich

The Oktoberfest grounds in Munich have been closed until at least 17:00 on Wednesday after police received a verified bomb threat connected to a violent incident in the city's north. The Theresienwiese site, where the world-famous festival is held, was cleared in the late morning as police launched a large-scale security operation.

The City of Munich announced the closure in a statement, citing "a bomb threat in connection with the explosion in northern Munich." Authorities are investigating possible links between the house fire and explosions in Lerchenau and the threat directed at the festival site. Mayor Dieter Reiter confirmed in a city council meeting that a letter from the perpetrator contained a "verified bomb threat" against Oktoberfest. He said the city could not take the risk of opening the festival grounds under these circumstances.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., an official emergency alert was broadcast to residents across Munich via the Cell Broadcast system, warning of "extreme danger." In an Instagram post, Reiter warned visitors that the closure might be extended throughout the day, emphasising that public safety comes first.

Despite the closure, crowds had already gathered outside the festival site in the morning, hoping to secure seats as Oktoberfest usually opens at 10:00. Police asked both visitors and staff to leave the grounds while officers carried out security checks.

The closure follows a deadly and dramatic sequence of events earlier in the day in Munich's Lerchenau district. Between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., explosions and loud bangs were reported in the residential area near Lerchenauer Straße and Glockenblumenstraße. A single-family home was deliberately set on fire after a domestic dispute, according to police. The suspect had planted explosive devices around the property, preventing emergency services from approaching.

One person was found seriously injured and later died -- believed to be the suspected perpetrator. A letter from this person included the threat against Oktoberfest. Bomb disposal experts were deployed to the scene, supported by police special units and helicopters. Residents within a 200-metre radius were evacuated, and a temporary support centre was set up at Nordhaide vocational school on Schleißheimer Straße.

Several vehicles were destroyed in the surrounding streets, including at least three burnt-out cars and a damaged minibus. A nearby secondary school, located roughly one kilometre from the scene, remained closed during the police operation. Transport links in northern Munich have been heavily disrupted: S-Bahn line 1 is not stopping at Feldmoching or Fasanerie, and several bus routes have been suspended or diverted.

Police continue to investigate all aspects of the case. While an anonymous message claiming responsibility was published online, authorities are primarily treating the incident as the result of a family dispute, with the bomb threat directed at Oktoberfest emerging as a secondary but serious element of the case.

Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit