Tight security as annual Oktoberfest opens in Munich
A young woman dressed in traditional clothes smiles after entering a tent prior to the opening of the 183rd Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, Sept. 16. The world’s largest beer festival will be held from Sept. 16 to Oct. 3. AP
MUNICH—Beer lovers from around the world are streaming to Munich’s Theresienwiese for the start of this year’s Oktoberfest, where security has been tightened following recent attacks.
The annual celebration is expected to draw some 6 million visitors to the Bavarian capital by Oct. 3.
By tradition, beer mugs must remain dry until Munich mayor Dieter Reiter opens the festival by tapping the first keg at noon Saturday.
Large bags have been banned, all visitors must go through security controls and the grounds will be monitored by multiple video cameras.
In the bloodiest recent incident, a German teenager fatally shot nine people at a Munich mall before killing himself. Two other attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group; several people were wounded, but only the attackers were killed.
