The Oktoberfest, the world-famous beer festival that attracts millions of visitors to Munich every year, was interrupted on Wednesday due to a bomb threat that forced the temporary evacuation of the Theresienwiese grounds.

Police confirmed the alert was connected to a house fire in the Lerchenau neighborhood, where explosive devices were discovered in the home of a man later found dead. Authorities believe the events stemmed from a family conflict. 

According to Munich’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, a letter discovered at the fire site confirmed the suspect’s ability to handle explosives and mentioned a possible attack during Oktoberfest. “The threat is concrete, and we must act responsibly to protect visitors,” he said. 

The suspect, a German national, was severely injured during the fire and later found at Lerchenauer See lake, where he died.

During what police described as a “family dispute,” both the suspect’s mother and daughter were injured before the man took his own life. Explosives were also found in his backpack, reinforcing suspicions of a planned attack. 

The case of Oktoberfest 2024

This was not the first incident disrupting the festival. On Saturday, Oktoberfest had to be temporarily shut down due to overcrowding, which caused panic among attendees. Some visitors reported fearing they could “die trampled” because of the chaotic evacuation. 

Police in Germany confirmed that after hours of inspection, no further threats were identified at Theresienwiese, and the grounds were reopened. Still, the episode reignited security concerns surrounding the world’s largest folk festival, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors daily. 

The case highlights once again the urgent need to strengthen safety measures at major public events, particularly as German authorities acknowledge they remain on constant alert for risks of violence and domestic terrorism.