Bomb threat sparks delay in opening of Munich's Oktoberfest

The opening of Munich's world-famous Oktoberfest has been delayed today following a bomb threat and an explosion at a home in the city.

The bomb threat to the popular beer festival was received in the form of a letter from a suspect who police have linked to a fire at a house in the north of the city. When authorities searched the property, they found it was rigged with explosives.

Police have urged people to leave the Oktoberfest area while they sweep the fairgrounds for explosive devices. It comes after officers were called to a fire at a home in the Lerchenau area at around 4.40am.

In an update on X, Munich Police said "loud banging noises were heard" when they arrived at the scene. Bomb disposal experts were later called in after officers discovered explosive traps in the burning building.

The initial theory from authorities is that the house was deliberately set on fire as part of a family dispute. One person was found injured with gunshot wounds at a nearby lake, according to the German newspaper Bild.

A spokesperson told Sky News they couldn't currently confirm this information, but clarified that the injured man has since died. Another person, who police say is not believed to pose any danger to the public, is missing.

Huge crowds have flocked to Munich for the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, which began on 20 September and runs until 5 October. Police said the opening of the festival grounds on Wednesday had been delayed while an investigation is ongoing.

"Due to an unspecified threat of explosives in connection with the explosion in northern Munich, the Theresienwiese will remain closed until 5pm," a police statement said. "Possible connections to other locations in Munich are being examined, including the Theresienwiese.

"For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds has been delayed." Theresienwiese is where the Oktoberfest takes place. Millions of people attend the beer and folk festival, with 300,000 visitors reported in one day on Saturday..