Add Oktoberfest, Munich’s annual orgy of beer and bratwurst to the list of events impacted by terrorist incidents in European cities, including Munich’s home state of Bavaria.
Measures taken include adding more police officers, doubling the number of civilian security guards, and completely fencing in the festival grounds, with a fence that can be dismantled in less than a minute in case of panic. Bags and packs larger than 3 liters are banned.
Munich police chief Werner Feller says that the precautions are needed even though “we have no indication of a concrete danger.” Josef Schmid, the deputy mayor, told reporters that “We have done everything that was necessary and appropriate. The character of this biggest, most beautiful festival will not change.”
If you think of an ocean of beer and brats as “most beautiful,” the dates for this year in Munich are Sept. 17 to Oct. 3rd. Maybe it should be Septemberfest…
Photo: police observation point viewing last year’s Oktoberfest
