Germany’s Oktoberfest was temporarily closed on Wednesday after police conducted a search of the festival grounds following a bomb threat. The warning was connected to a suspect involved in an earlier explosion in northern Munich, where authorities confirmed the individual died by suicide.
Munich police stated the threat linked to the suspect “was not confirmed,” allowing the festival area to reopen. The suspect, who resided in Starnberg south of the city, had been carrying a backpack containing an explosive device, according to a Bavaria police statement. Prior to the Oktoberfest alert, a residential building in northern Munich was deliberately set ablaze in what police described as a domestic dispute over paternity.
A letter found at the scene reportedly contained a “non-specific” threat of explosives targeting Oktoberfest. A 21-year-old woman and the suspect’s 90-year-old father were injured in the incident, with the latter later dying from his wounds. The suspect allegedly killed his parents before taking his own life near Lercheanauer Lake.
Emergency responders discovered hand grenades with tripwires and multiple booby traps at the residence. Local residents reported hearing explosions and seeing fire early Wednesday, prompting a 200-meter evacuation zone. Police have not confirmed reports of gunfire during the incident.
