Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Oktoberfest Grounds Briefly Closed After Crowd Surge, Reopen Within an Hour

Officials defend the security plan after pausing entry to ease the crowding.

Overview

  • Organizers sealed entrances for roughly 30 minutes during the 5 p.m. table change when parts of the Theresienwiese became immobile.
  • Munich police urged people on X not to come to the site, and U-Bahn trains temporarily skipped the Theresienwiese station to reduce inflow.
  • The festival medical service reported two panic attacks and no other injuries as crowds redistributed to reserved seats and gates reopened stepwise.
  • A TikTok video showing tightly packed visitors spread widely, prompting criticism of on-site announcements and crowd management.
  • City representatives said the security concept functioned as designed, citing a large police presence and camera network, with interim figures due at the scheduled half-time briefing.