Authorities in Munich on Wednesday morning shut down the Oktoberfest fairgrounds, the world’s largest beer festival, following a bomb threat linked to an explosion at a residential building in northern Munich, city officials said.
The explosion, which police said was deliberately set and stemmed from a domestic dispute, reportedly killed at least one person. It is not yet clear whether the deceased is the suspected perpetrator or another individual. Another person, not considered a danger to the public, remains missing.
Specialized police teams were deployed to defuse potential booby traps at the building, while photos from the scene showed a burned-out van.
The alleged perpetrator sent a letter threatening explosives at Oktoberfest, prompting police to search the festival grounds and evacuate workers. Authorities said the fair will remain closed at least until 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) Wednesday.
This year’s Oktoberfest, running from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5, usually draws up to six million visitors, making it the world’s largest beer festival.
Munich’s Oktoberfest also has a tragic history of attacks. In 1980, a neo-Nazi bombing killed 13 people, including three children, and injured more than 200. The attacker, Gundolf Koehler, was a member of a banned far-right group.