Oktoberfest closed after bomb threat and explosion leaves one dead

The world famous Oktoberfest festival has been closed after a deadly explosion and bomb threat which left one man dead near a property in Germany.

A major policeincident is now underway in Lerchenau, northern Munich, where bomb disposal experts raced to a residential building that was "deliberately set on fire" with explosives in an incident officers fear is linked to the festival. Police have closed the Oktoberfest fairgrounds following a bomb threat found in a letter from the suspected perpetrator. Specialised teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the building, while photos from the area also showed a burned-out van covered in extinguishing foam.

Police have scoured the fairgrounds for other explosive devices and asked workers to leave the area. Authorities said the festivalwill be closed at least until 5pm local time on Wednesday.

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The street where the blaze erupted was placed under lockdown this morning after the suspect is said to have set fireto his parents home following a "family dispute". Emergency services raced to the scene at around 4:40am to find flames tearing through a residential building, where "loud banging noises" were heard.

Police initially arrived to find an injured person who "might be connected to the incident". The person has since died, while another is missing, officers said. Explosive devices were also found in the affected building, with special forces deployed to defuse the bombs. A nearby school primary and middle school was shut down amid the chaos.

The body of a man was reportedly found at the scene. He is said to have used explosives to set his parents' house on fire, according to BILD. At least one other person was found with gunshot wounds near Lerchenauer Lake, the publication reports. In a statement posted to X, Munich Police said: "Currently, we are conducting an operation in the Lerchenau area together with the fire department. There are significant traffic disruptions. Avoid the area by taking a wide detour.

"We are responding to an incident due to a burning residential building. Additionally, loud banging noises were heard. An injured person was found who might be connected to the incident. We are on the scene together with the fire department," the force said. "We are currently investigating in all directions. Possible connections with other locations in Munich, including the Theresienwiese, are being examined. For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds has been delayed."