Oktoberfest closed after bomb threat and explosion leaves one dead

The world famous Oktoberfest festival has been closed after a deadly explosion and bomb threat which left one man dead near a property in Germany.

A major policeincident is now underway in Lerchenau, northern Munich, where bomb disposal experts raced to a residential building that was "deliberately set on fire" with explosives in an incident officers fear is linked to the festival. Police have closed the Oktoberfest fairgrounds after the bomb threat was found in a letter from the suspected perpetrator. Specialised teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the building, while photos from the area also showed a burned-out van covered in extinguishing foam.

Police have scoured the fairgrounds for other explosive devices and asked workers to leave the area. Authorities said the festivalwill be closed at least until 5pm local time on Wednesday.

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The street where the blaze erupted was placed under lockdown this morning after the suspect is said to have set fireto his parents home following a "family dispute". Emergency services raced to the scene at around 4:40am to find flames tearing through a residential building, where "loud banging noises" were heard.

Police initially arrived to find an injured person who "might be connected to the incident". That individual has since died, while another person, who is not believed to pose any danger, is missing. Explosive devices were found in the affected building, with special forces deployed to defuse the bombs. A nearby school primary and middle school was shut down amid the chaos.

Possible links to other locations are now being investigated, including the festival site at Theresienwiese.

In a series of statements posted to X, Munich Police said: "According to the current state of knowledge, the residential building was deliberately set on fire in the context of a family dispute. The injured person found has since passed away. Another person is missing, from whom no danger is posed.

"In the affected building, explosive traps were also detected. Special forces were called in for defusing. We are on site with numerous emergency response personnel. We are currently investigating in all directions. Possible connections to other locations in Munich are being examined, including the Theresienwiese. For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds is delayed.

"Search operations are currently taking place in the restricted access areas around the festival grounds. Persons working at the Wiesn are requested to leave the festival grounds. A designated area is available for them. Further protective measures will follow."

Heavily armed officers from the Southern Bavaria Special Forces (SEK) stormed the suspect's apartment in Starnberg just before noon, according to BILD. The scene has been cordoned off, and police ensured the apartment was free of explosives before entering.

Oktoberfest attracts around six to seven million visitors each year, making it extremely popular and the world's largest beer festival. Recent figures show an average of roughly 7 million attendees, though 2023 saw a record 7.2 million visitors.

In 1980, Oktoberfest was the target of a deadly neo-Nazi attack. The bombing on the evening of September 26 1980 claimed 13 lives, including that of three children and the attacker, student Gundolf Koehler, a supporter of a banned far-right group. More than 200 people were wounded in the attack.