Munich's famed Oktoberfest closed as police probe bomb threat

The world-famous Oktoberfest beer festival is closed until at least 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Wednesday as police probe a bomb threat after an explosion hit a building in the Bavarian capital.

A statement on the city's website said the decision to close the festival grounds was taken "due to a bomb threat in connection with the explosion in northern Munich."

"A corresponding letter" containing the threat was received, the city said.

Police said booby traps were found in a burning building in the southern German city early on Wednesday, prompting specialized forces to be called in to defuse them.

Officers responded to a call at 4:41 am and found a completely burnt-out van in a residential area.

Police ordered evacuations in a radius of 200 metres around the burning building, with hundreds of emergency responders on site, including the fire brigade and heavily armed officers.

Investigators suspect arson, potentially linked to a family dispute.

A possible link to Antifa is also being probed after an online post claimed responsibility for attacks on Wednesday morning.

"We torched several luxury cars and paid house visits in the north of Munich," said a post on the indymedia.org website titled "Antifa means attack."

"What's more, one fascist's morning walk didn't end particularly well," it added.

Police reported on X that an injured person found by a lake about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the building, has since died. Authorities are investigating a possible connection between the two incidents.

Another person is reported missing, but is not considered dangerous, police said.

Known locally as the Wiesn, Oktoberfest draws millions of visitors each year to the city's Theresienwiese meadow every autumn.

This year's edition runs from September 20 to October 5, but it is unclear when the traditional festival will be able to reopen following the bomb threat.

Visitors to the site, which opens at 10 am on weekdays, were queueing at entrances when the initial police announcements were made.

Police said "searches are currently being carried out in the restricted access areas around the festival site."

The city is due to decide on how to proceed in the early afternoon. The early evening table change at 5 pm marks the shift from lunch to dinner reservations in the festival's notorious beer tents.