Oktoberfest grounds closed as Munich police investigate explosives incident

The Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich will remain shut on Wednesday until at least 5pm local time after police said they discovered explosives in a residential building in the north of the city that caught fire and left one person dead.

As part of a major operation that police earlier said posed no danger to the public, special forces were investigating an area in the north of Munich where Bild newspaper and multiple other reports said shots and explosions had been heard.

Police said the residential building had been deliberately set on fire in a family dispute and one person who was found there had died while another was missing, but was not believed to be in danger.

Special forces had to be brought in to defuse booby traps found in the building, according to police.

“We are currently investigating all possibilities. Possible connections to other locations in Munich are being examined, including the Theresienwiese,” Munich police said on the WhatsApp messaging service, referencing the site of Oktoberfest.

“For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds has been delayed,” police added.