Germany: Oktoberfest beer starts flowing amid high security

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Munich's Oktoberfest opened its doors on Saturday for the 189th time, welcoming thousands of visitors to its renowned beer tents. This year’s festival features heightened security measures following a series of security incidents in Germany, including a deadly knife attack in Solingen last month.

As visitors arrived, they faced a three-hour wait before Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter officially commenced the two-week event by tapping the first keg. He presented the inaugural liter of beer to Bavarian state premier Markus Söder.

The festival, which runs until October 6, takes place in 18 large tents at the Theresienwiese fairground. For the first time, the event has implemented metal detectors at entry points. Alongside 600 police officers, an additional 1,500 security personnel will assist with visitor guidance through security checkpoints.

The security enhancements follow the August 23 stabbing attack in Solingen, which resulted in three fatalities and eight injuries, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility. There have been no specific threats to Oktoberfest reported.

Approximately 6 million attendees are expected over the festival's 16 days, with daily attendance reaching up to 600,000. Prices for a liter of beer range from €13.60 to €15.30 ($15.12 to $17.01), reflecting a modest increase from last year. Oktoberfest was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, returning in 2022.