Munich’s world-renowned Oktoberfest, a festival that draws millions from across the globe, faced an unprecedented disruption on October 1, 2025, as authorities shut down the event for much of the day following a deadly explosion and bomb threat linked to a family dispute in the city’s northern district. The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday morning, sent shockwaves through Germany and prompted a massive security response, ultimately leading to the festival’s cautious reopening by evening.
According to ABC News, the trouble began around 4:45 a.m. in the Lerchenau area of northern Munich when police and firefighters responded to reports of a burning residential building and loud bangs. Investigators quickly determined that the blaze had been deliberately set during a violent family dispute. Inside the home, they discovered multiple explosive devices rigged as booby traps, further complicating the emergency response. Nearby, cars were also found burning, and a dead man was located near Lerchenau Lake, possibly connected to the incident.
Police later identified the deceased as a 57-year-old German man suspected of starting the fire. As reported by AP, preliminary findings suggested that he had taken his own life near the lake. The suspect was found carrying a backpack containing an explosive device, which required defusal by specialized teams. Authorities also confirmed that the man’s 81-year-old mother and 21-year-old daughter, a German-Brazilian dual national, were both injured in the incident and hospitalized for treatment.
The dramatic events in Lerchenau had immediate repercussions for Oktoberfest, which was in full swing at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in central Munich. Police received a letter from the suspect containing a non-specific bomb threat against the festival. As a result, the Theresienwiese was cordoned off, and the festival grounds were closed to the public. “Due to a bomb threat in connection with the explosion in northern Munich, the Theresienwiese will remain closed until 5:00 p.m.,” Munich police announced in a statement, as cited by CBS News. Sniffer dogs and explosives specialists were deployed to search the sprawling festival site, which typically attracts up to 6 million visitors over its two-week run.
Munich’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, addressed the city council and the public, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat. “Police will do everything possible to fully search the festival grounds by 5 p.m.,” Reiter said, according to CBS News. “Safety comes first.” The U.S. Consulate in Munich also issued an alert to American citizens, urging them to avoid the area around Oktoberfest due to the ongoing security operation.
Throughout the day, more than 500 officers were deployed to secure the festival and investigate the incident in Lerchenau, according to DW. The search was exhaustive, with authorities mustering bomb-sniffing dogs to sweep the grounds multiple times. Photos from the scene showed police in fluorescent vests patrolling the nearly deserted festival area, which is typically bustling with activity, rides, and revelers.
As the investigation unfolded, police confirmed that the suspect’s written statement had contained explicit threats against Oktoberfest, but by late afternoon, no threatening devices or substances had been found at the festival site. “Currently there is no indication that other areas of Munich are in danger,” police assured the public, as reported by BBC.
The closure of Oktoberfest was a stark reminder of the festival’s vulnerability to security threats. As DW noted, Oktoberfest has faced heightened security measures in recent years following past attacks and foiled plots. The most notorious incident occurred in 1980, when a far-right extremist detonated a bomb at the festival’s entrance, killing 13 and injuring more than 200. More recently, in 2009, German authorities thwarted a suspected Islamist plot against the event, leading to stricter entry checks, bag restrictions, and a heavy police presence. The 2016 mass shooting at Munich’s Olympia shopping center further underscored the need for vigilance at large public gatherings.
Authorities also investigated an online post on indymedia.org that claimed responsibility for the arson and referenced “antifa,” but police found no confirmed links between the post and the actual incident. Investigators concluded that the fire and explosions were the result of a family dispute rather than a coordinated extremist attack. “The suspect was carrying a rucksack which based on current findings contained an explosive device which then needed to be defused,” Munich police said in a follow-up statement, as quoted by DW.
By early evening, after hours of tense uncertainty, police declared the Oktoberfest grounds safe. The security sweep at Theresienwiese was completed and the festival was allowed to reopen at 5:30 p.m. local time. “There are currently no indications that there is a danger at other locations in Munich,” police reiterated, providing much-needed reassurance to residents and visitors alike.
The fallout from the day’s events was felt not only by those directly involved but by the entire city of Munich. The closure and subsequent reopening of Oktoberfest highlighted both the challenges and the effectiveness of Germany’s emergency response systems. City officials, police, and emergency workers were praised for their swift and thorough actions, which ensured public safety and prevented further tragedy.
For festivalgoers, the interruption was a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of modern security threats. Yet, as the gates reopened and the crowds slowly returned, there was a palpable sense of relief and resilience. Oktoberfest, with its long and storied history, had weathered another storm—one born not of ideology or terror, but of personal tragedy and violence within a family.
As the festival resumed, officials continued to monitor the situation closely, vowing to maintain heightened security throughout the remaining days of Oktoberfest, which is set to conclude on October 5. The events of October 1, 2025, will no doubt be remembered as a day when Munich was tested, but ultimately stood firm in the face of fear and uncertainty.
With order restored and the festival back in full swing, Munich’s residents and visitors alike were reminded that, while vigilance is essential, the spirit of community and celebration endures—even in the aftermath of crisis.
