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Munich Oktoberfest reopens after man’s deadly arson attack and bomb threat Munich Oktoberfest reopens after man’s deadly arson attack and bomb threat
(30 minutes later)
Beer festival had closed after 57-year-old man shot parents, set house on fire, and left note mentioning eventBeer festival had closed after 57-year-old man shot parents, set house on fire, and left note mentioning event
A German man went on a deadly gun, explosives and arson rampage against his family and then killed himself on Wednesday, sparking security fears in Munich that closed the world-famous Oktoberfest for seven hours. A German man went on a deadly gun, explosives and arson rampage against his family and then killed himself on Wednesday, prompting security fears in Munich that closed the world-famous Oktoberfest for seven hours.
Authorities decided to close the event temporarily after finding a note the man had dropped in a nearby letterbox that included a vague threat to the Bavarian city’s beer festival.Authorities decided to close the event temporarily after finding a note the man had dropped in a nearby letterbox that included a vague threat to the Bavarian city’s beer festival.
The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, then gave the all-clear in the afternoon and the event reopened in the evening.The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, then gave the all-clear in the afternoon and the event reopened in the evening.
Police said the 57-year-old man had opened fire on his parents with a self-made weapon in an attack that started before dawn. He then set their house on fire, having earlier booby-trapped the building.Police said the 57-year-old man had opened fire on his parents with a self-made weapon in an attack that started before dawn. He then set their house on fire, having earlier booby-trapped the building.
Police said they believed he had probably killed his 90-year-old father, whose body was seen but could not be recovered from the still-burning house in the city’s leafy northern Lerchenau district.Police said they believed he had probably killed his 90-year-old father, whose body was seen but could not be recovered from the still-burning house in the city’s leafy northern Lerchenau district.
The man also shot his 81-year-old mother, who was later taken to hospital with wounds not considered life-threatening, they said. The man also shot his 81-year-old mother, who was taken to hospital with wounds not considered life-threatening, they said.
His 21-year-old daughter was also injured but was rescued by firefighters from the first floor, having threatened to jump to escape the flames, police said.His 21-year-old daughter was also injured but was rescued by firefighters from the first floor, having threatened to jump to escape the flames, police said.
The man, who has not been named, ran off after a police helicopter spotted him in the garden. After a short pursuit, he stopped in a lakeside park and killed himself, police said. The man, who has not been named, fled after a police helicopter spotted him in the garden. After a short pursuit, he stopped in a lakeside park and killed himself, police said.
Bomb squads were called in because the man had rigged the building with explosives – reportedly grenades attached to trip wires – and was also carrying an explosives-laden backpack.Bomb squads were called in because the man had rigged the building with explosives – reportedly grenades attached to trip wires – and was also carrying an explosives-laden backpack.
During his rampage, he had also set three vehicles ablaze outside the house, including his own van, police said. During his rampage, he had also set three vehicles on fire outside the house, including his own van, police said.
The crime sparked a major police mobilisation shortly before 5:00 am local time and then the evacuation of nearby residents and a local school. The crime prompted a major police mobilisation shortly before 5am local time, and then the evacuation of nearby residents and a local school. About 500 police, firefighters and other first responders were deployed during the day’s emergency response operations.
About 500 police, firefighters and other first responders were deployed during the day’s emergency response operations.
Bavaria state’s interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, said there was no sign of a political or religious motive. “It appears, incomprehensible as it may be, that this was solely a family matter,” he added.Bavaria state’s interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, said there was no sign of a political or religious motive. “It appears, incomprehensible as it may be, that this was solely a family matter,” he added.
City authorities responded to the alarm by announcing the temporary closure of the Oktoberfest, considered the world’s largest such gathering. City authorities responded to the alarm by announcing the temporary closure of the Oktoberfest, considered the world’s largest such gathering. The festival, held from 20 September to 5 October this year, welcomed 6.7 million visitors in 2024.
The festivities, held from 20 September to 5 October this year, welcomed 6.7 million visitors in 2024. In 1980 it was the scene of a pipe bomb attack by a far-right group, which killed 13 people and wounded more than 200.
It was hit by a 1980 attack when a far-right group detonated a pipe bomb, killing 13 people and wounding more than 200.