Oktoberfest Opening Delayed in Munich Due to Fire and Bomb Threat

Fri Oct 10 2025 18:18:38 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The launch of the iconic Oktoberfest in Munich has been postponed following a fatal fire incident and a bomb threat, prompting a large-scale police response.

The much-anticipated opening of Oktoberfest in Munich has been pushed back due to concerns stemming from a fire that resulted in one fatality and a bomb threat. Authorities are investigating possible connections to the festival grounds as police manage an emergency operation in the area.

Munich police say the opening of the venue where Oktoberfest is taking place has been delayed because of possible connections to an explosion and fire at a house in the city, in which one person has died.

Mayor Dieter Reiter stated that the Theresienwiese would remain closed until at least 17:00 (15:00 GMT) on Wednesday due to a bomb threat.

A large-scale emergency operation is currently underway in Lerchenau in the north of Munich, triggered by a fire in a single-family home, where residents reported explosions.

Authorities are investigating potential links to other locations, including the festival site at Theresienwiese. For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds has been delayed, police announced.

Oktoberfest, ongoing from September 20 to October 5, has already attracted over 3.5 million visitors, being recognized as the world's largest folk and beer festival.

Police investigating the fire in Lerchenau suggested that it might have been deliberately set as part of a family dispute. They confirmed that the injured individual found has since died, while another missing person is not deemed a threat.

Authorities reported that booby traps were discovered in the affected building, prompting the call for special forces to neutralize them.

Numerous emergency personnel are on site as the situation develops.