Oktoberfest Opening Postponed Following Fatal Fire Incident and Bomb Threat in Munich

Sat Oct 11 2025 03:43:07 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The opening of Oktoberfest in Munich has been delayed due to a tragic fire that resulted in one fatality, as authorities investigate possible connections to a bomb threat amid an ongoing emergency response.

The iconic Oktoberfest in Munich faces a delayed opening after a fatal fire in the Lerchenau district, where police are investigating explosions and potential bomb threats. Authorities are currently conducting a large-scale emergency operation near the incident site, with reports suggesting links to the festival area. Mayor Dieter Reiter announced that the festival grounds would remain closed until at least 17:00 local time as police continue their investigations.

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 said the Theresienwiese would remain closed until at least 17:00 (15:00 GMT) on Wednesday because of a bomb threat.

A large-scale emergency operation is currently under way in Lerchenau in the north of Munich. Police said it was triggered by a fire in a single-family home. Reports indicated that residents heard an explosion.

Police said possible links to other locations were being investigated, including the festival site at Theresienwiese. For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds has been delayed, said police.

Oktoberfest runs from 20 September until 5 October and has already attracted more than 3.5 million visitors, described as the world's largest folk and beer festival.

Authorities investigating the fire in Lerchenau believe a residential building was deliberately set alight as part of a family dispute. The victim found at the scene has since died, and another missing person is not believed to pose any danger.

Moreover, police reported finding booby traps in the affected building, which prompted the call for special forces to defuse them. Numerous emergency personnel are currently on scene.