Munich in shock
After bomb threat: Oktoberfest reopens today!
After a bomb threat on Wednesday, the Munich Oktoberfest did not open its gates until 5.30 pm instead of the usual 10 am. Tens of thousands were already waiting to get in (see video above). There was chaos at the entrances for an hour and a half until normal Wiesn life returned. The closure was triggered by a family bloodbath in the north of the city, including a threatening letter for the Wiesn.
"An hour in the queue for three meters", described "Krone" sports boss Peter Moizi, who was right in the chaos in front of the entrances. Some people were climbing over fences and whistling could be heard in the crowd. And going to the toilet was not so easy. "People were defecating next to others," said Moizi, describing the situation.
"Now life at the Wiesn is back to normal"
Then it happened quickly: The Wiesn security staff switched to block clearance and let people into the grounds en masse so that calm returned to the gates. "Now, at 6.45 pm, life at the Wiesn is back to normal", Moizi said in the early evening.
The Oktoberfest visitors had previously had to wait for hours outside the entrances - after a threat against the Wiesn, it had been decided to keep the site closed and search it completely. During the search, which involved around 500 police officers and 30 explosives sniffer dogs from all over Bavaria, no threats were found.
It was a depressing moment for us when the Wiesn was closed and we all had to leave the grounds. But the safety of our guests comes first.
Ein Sprecher der Wiesn-Wirte
Reopening only decided after consultation
In the afternoon, the city, the police and the Wiesn landlords agreed that the Wiesn would reopen to visitors at 5.30 pm. Guests who had a reservation will not lose it. "Lunch reservations can be rebooked for the following days depending on availability", the Wiesn hosts announced.
"The police have informed me that, from their point of view, it is safe for the Wiesn to continue", Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) reacted with relief on his Instagram channel.
Letter with bomb threat against the Oktoberfest
According to Reiter, the closure was based on findings in connection with a fire and explosions including booby traps in a residential building in the north of the city on Wednesday night. The police had found a letter in an apartment in Starnberg containing a bomb threat against the Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest in Munich (which runs until Sunday, October 5) would normally have opened its doors at 10 am.
"State of emergency" in the morning
People in the Bavarian capital lived through anxious hours of uncertainty until the Wiesn reopened. "There is a state of emergency. Police and helicopters are circling over the city, people are searching everywhere for clues. People are very anxious," reported "Krone" sports boss Moizi, who is currently in Munich, in the morning. The authorities subsequently sent out a warning message to cell phones in Munich. It warned of "extreme danger".
"Krone" sports boss Peter Moizi witnessed the exceptional situation in Munich:
Son (57) caused family bloodbath
Bild" reported that a 57-year-old German had rigged his family home in the Lerchenau district of Munich with explosives, shot his father (90), shot his mother (81), set fire to the family home and then - after being pursued by the police - shot himself. The 21-year-old daughter was able to escape from the burning house. Mother and daughter were taken to hospital. The body of the 90-year-old father has not yet been recovered from the house.
A van also burned out in front of the house, as did two cars a few streets away. The emergency services also found hand grenades with tripwires in the house.
Photos of the scene and the Oktoberfest grounds:
Perpetrator was carrying a rucksack with an explosive device
According to the police, the 57-year-old suspect lived in Starnberg. When he fled from the police, he was carrying a rucksack containing an explosive device that had to be defused. The German did not have a permit to handle weapons or explosives. He was not known to the police.
At midday, the SEK Bayern stormed the perpetrator's apartment in the district of Starnberg, which borders Munich. Beforehand, it was ensured that there were no booby traps in the apartment. The surrounding area was cordoned off.
Dispute over inheritance probably the motive for the crime
Investigators also found the letter of confession in the apartment, which led to the closure of the Oktoberfest. Investigators now assume that the arson was deliberate following a family dispute over an inheritance.
This article has been automatically translated,
read the original article here.
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