A fire in a detached house in northern set off a large emergency operation on Wednesday, with police and firefighters blocking roads and urging residents to avoid the Lerchenau area.
Police said a wider investigation was underway that would delay the morning opening of the Munich Oktoberfest beer festival.
What do we know about the police operation in Munich?
On the social media platform X, Munich police asked drivers to steer clear of the area while operations continued.
Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that investigators discovered one dead person and another injured inside the house.
The newspaper also cited earlier accounts of gunfire, but police did not initially confirm that detail.
Bild reported that a man had been found dead after reportedly setting fire to his parents’ home and rigging it with explosives. He is believed to have then taken his own life, the newspaper said. Police later confirmed that at least one person had been found dead.
It added that the deceased had been carrying a rucksack. Police feared explosives might be present, with a bomb defusal team deployed to the scene.
Police later confirmed that at least one person had been found dead. At least one other person was reported to have been discovered with gunshot wounds.
Why is the Oktoberfest opening delayed?
Police posted late that an investigation was underway that involved possible links to other parts of the city, including the Theresienwiese festival grounds.
“We are currently investigating in all directions. Possible connections to other locations in Munich are being examined, including the Theresienwiese. For this reason, the opening of the festival grounds is delayed.”
Police spokesman Thomas Schelshorn had earlier said there was “no current danger to the public” and “no connection to the ,” referring to the world-famous annual beer festival currently taking place in the city.
Edited by Wesley Dockery
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