Overview

• Authorities delayed opening the Theresienwiese grounds for hours, then cleared the site and reopened the festival at about 5:30 p.m. local time.
• Emergency crews found a residential building in Lerchenau deliberately set on fire and rigged with explosive devices that specialists rendered safe.
• Investigators recovered a letter from the suspect containing a non‑specific threat to Oktoberfest, prompting the citywide security response.
• The suspect later died by suicide near a lake and was found with a backpack explosive that was secured by police, according to officials.
• Police say the case appears to be a family dispute; an 81-year-old mother and a 21-year-old daughter were hospitalized, and officers are reviewing unverified online claims as the investigation continues.