Oktoberfest beer flows under high security precautions – DW – 21.09.2024

Thousands lined up in Munich early Saturday to wait for the start of the 189th most famous beer festival in the world.

Following a fatal knife attack in the western German city of Solingen in August, visitors to attractions were subject to additional security measures.

Although the venue opened at 9 a.m. local time, beer lovers had to wait three hours until Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter officially opened the two-week event by tapping the first barrel.

He presented the first liter of beer to the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU).

What is different about this year’s festival?

The festival lasts until October 6 and is held in 18 large tents on the Theresienwiese in the Bavarian capital. This year, the organizers have increased security measures and installed metal detectors in the line-up for the first time in the history of the Oktoberfest.

In addition to the 600 police officers, the city is deploying another 1,500 security guards to help guide visitors quickly through security checks.

The new measures come after the knife attack in Solingen 23, in which three people were killed and eight others injured at a city festival. The terrorist militia “Islamic State” claimed responsibility for the attack.

The knife attacks occurred after a police officer in Mannheim was killed by an Afghan migrant in early June.

There are reportedly no concrete threats against the Oktoberfest.

What happens at Oktoberfest?

Around 6 million visitors are expected over the 16 days of the festival, so up to 600,000 each day.

They have to expect a relatively high price for a liter of beer between 13.60 and 15.30 euros (15.12 to 17.01 US dollars) – about 3.87 percent more than in 2023.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was put on hold in 2020 and 2021, but took place again in 2022.

The first Oktoberfest was opened on October 17, 1810 to celebrate the wedding of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig with Theresia of Saxony, who gave the venue her name.

rc/ab (AP, dpa)