Munich Closes Oktoberfest After Deadly Explosion, Bomb Threat

Munich authorities temporarily closed the Oktoberfest grounds at Theresienwiese and delayed the festival’s opening until at least 5 p.m. local time after a bomb-threat letter was linked to a deadly explosion and fire in the city's north that killed at least one person. Police said investigators now describe the blaze as deliberately set and tied to a domestic dispute, though it remained unclear whether the deceased was the suspected perpetrator. Special forces found explosive devices and booby traps in the residential building and ordered workers off the festival grounds while conducting searches of Theresienwiese and nearby areas. Mayor Dieter Reiter said the site will remain closed while police complete safety checks, and officials said investigators are conducting a large-scale probe that includes possible links to other locations in Munich. The festival runs through Oct. 5 and normally draws millions of visitors.