The grounds of Munich’s Oktoberfest will remain closed on Wednesday, following a fire accompanied by loud noises in a house in the northern part of the city, according to police. Explosive devices were found in the house, and authorities are investigating whether there is any connection to the Theresienwiese festival site, the police said.
Investigations are ongoing in all directions. Following the discovery of the explosives, authorities are also examining potential links to other locations, including the Oktoberfest grounds. It is currently unclear whether there is any specific threat.
Firefighters and police responded early Wednesday morning to the blaze in the Lerchenau district, which is believed to have been triggered by a family dispute. Police deployed a bomb squad as a column of smoke rose in the sky. They said the house had been rigged with explosives and then set on fire.
Near the site of the fire, a severely injured person was found at Lerchenauer See and later died. Bild daily reported that a man was suspected of having caused the explosion and fire in his parents' house before killing himself, and that shots had been fired in the incident, but police did not confirm this. Another individual is reported missing; however, authorities have stated that there is no danger associated with this person.
"Due to a bomb threat in connection with the explosion in northern Munich, Theresienwiese will remain closed until 5:00 pm for the time being," said a statement on the Oktoberfest website.
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