Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest will remain closed until at least 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Wednesday after police discovered explosives in a residential building in the north of the city that had caught fire, leaving one person dead.
Authorities launched a major operation after reports of shots and explosions in the neighborhood. Munich police confirmed that the blaze was deliberately set during a family dispute.
One person was found dead inside the building, while another remains missing but is not believed to be in danger.
Special forces were deployed to neutralize booby traps found in the residence. “We are currently investigating all possibilities.
Possible connections to other locations in Munich are being examined, including the Theresienwiese (where the Oktoberfest is located),” police said in a statement on WhatsApp.
The precaution led to the delayed opening of Oktoberfest’s festival grounds, which attract millions of visitors each year. The event, the world’s largest folk festival, opened on September 20 and is scheduled to run until October 5.
On its website, Oktoberfest organizers confirmed the closure, citing the explosion in northern Munich as the reason for Wednesday’s suspension until late afternoon.
