Munich's Oktoberfest Opening Delayed Due to Fire and Bomb Threat

Thu Oct 16 2025 22:35:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The grand opening of Oktoberfest in Munich has been postponed following a fatal fire linked to a bomb threat, disrupting one of the world's largest cultural celebrations.

Oktoberfest's opening in Munich has been delayed due to a bomb threat associated with a fatal fire in a residential area. Mayor Dieter Reiter announced that the festival grounds at Theresienwiese will remain closed for safety precautions until at least 17:00 local time. Authorities are investigating the incident, which involved reports of explosions and possible deliberate actions related to a family dispute.

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 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, a northern district of Munich. Police reported that the operation was triggered by a fire in a single-family home, with residents claiming to have heard an explosion.

Authorities are also exploring links to other locations, including the Oktoberfest festival site at Theresienwiese.

For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds has been delayed, said police.

This year's Oktoberfest runs from 20 September until 5 October and has already drawn over 3.5 million visitors, making it the world's largest folk and beer festival.

Investigations into the Lerchenau fire revealed that it was likely deliberately set in connection with a family dispute. Unfortunately, one injured person has been pronounced dead, and another is reported missing, though not believed to pose any danger.

Authorities discovered booby traps within the affected building, prompting the involvement of special forces to defuse them as a precaution. Numerous emergency personnel are present on site.