Munich Oktoberfest Opening Postponed Due to Fatal Fire and Bomb Threat

Mon Oct 20 2025 18:19:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The highly anticipated opening of Oktoberfest in Munich has been delayed following a tragic fire incident and a bomb threat, prompting extensive police operations.

A fire at a residential home in Munich resulted in one fatality and a bomb threat has forced authorities to delay the opening of Oktoberfest. Police are investigating the incident, which they believe may be linked to a family dispute. A special forces team is on site to defuse discovered booby traps, while emergency personnel manage the ongoing situation.

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 site 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 taking place in Lerchenau, a northern district of Munich. This was initiated in response to a fire reported in a single-family home. Local residents have also mentioned hearing an explosion.

Authorities are evaluating potential connections to the Oktoberfest festival site.

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

Oktoberfest is scheduled to run from September 20 until October 5, having already attracted over 3.5 million attendees. It stands as the largest folk and beer festival globally.

Investigators have suggested that the fire in Lerchenau might have been intentionally set amid a family conflict. Although another individual is reported missing, officials believe they do not pose a threat.

Booby traps were also found in the affected building. Special forces were called in to defuse them, police confirmed.

Numerous emergency personnel are currently on-site managing the situation.