Crowds at the Oktoberfest: The city advises people not to come to Theresienwiese anymore
On the second Saturday of the Oktoberfest, the festival grounds are extremely full. The city of Munich is warning visitors of further influxes while security forces direct the crowds.
Quick Look
- Due to the extreme crowds on the second Saturday of the Oktoberfest, the city of Munich is currently advising visitors to avoid Oktoberfest.
- Tents are already overcrowded and security announcements are underway.
- At the same time, a commemoration of the Oktoberfest attack in 1980 took place.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Oktoberfest 2024 will take place under stricter security measures after dangerous crowds last year. The right-wing extremist attack in 1980 was also discussed.
It's very crowded at the Oktoberfest on Saturday. The first announcements are made not to stand in front of the tents.
On its official Oktoberfest Instagram account, the city of Munich currently advises against heading to the Oktoberfest. “There are a lot of guests at the Oktoberfest right now, please come at a later date,” it says.
The crowdspotter has its first mission: Shortly after 4:30 p.m. the first announcement comes out - first in German, then in English and finally in Italian. The speaker asks visitors not to stand in front of the tents and to keep entrances and exits clear.
Already in the afternoon the main entrances to many large and even small tents are closed and crowds of people are forming in front of them. Visitors use hand signals to show the bouncers how many seats they need.
Official figures on how many people are currently at the Oktoberfest are not yet available. It's the busiest day so far. However, the Aicher Ambulance, which is in a hurry during operations, has to make do with whistles as always.
The paramedics had to handle 182 missions with the stretcher on Friday - more than twice as many as the day before. They cared for a total of 703 patients.
On the evening of September 26, 1980, a right-wing extremist bomb exploded at the main entrance to Oktoberfest. Twelve people died and around 200 were injured. In the morning, representatives of the city, the bereaved and the DGB youth remembered them.
For a 32-year-old, the 191st Oktoberfest is over again because of repeated sexual assaults. The district administration department issued a general ban on entry to the festival grounds.
The Munich police have arrested a 51-year-old after an attempted pickpocketing in the Schottenhamel tent.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further temporary closures of the festival tents in case of overcrowding.
Very likely · Within hours
Open Questions
- How many people in total were turned away on Saturday?
- Will the security concept be further tightened for the rest of Oktoberfest?
