MUNICH, Sept 19 (Askume) – Handheld metal detectors will be introduced at the world’s biggest beer festival this year, following a deadly knife attack at a festival in the German city of Solingen last month .
“We want to solve this problem,” Oktoberfest organiser Clemens Baumgartner said of the new measures, adding that the festival will open on Saturday and the number of management staff will be reduced.
The festival is held each year at Theresienwiese in the southern German city of Munich as the 189th Oktoberfest and will last for around two weeks.
Paulaner, Spatenbräu and Löwenbräu are just some of Germany’s leading brewers that have set up tents at the festival, which will also feature Bavarian live music, lederhosen, jumpsuits and pretzels.
Luggage checks and searches at the entrance will continue as usual and the Munich police will also monitor weapons.
Munich police spokesman Andreas Franken warned of possible fines, saying: “Anyone who considers carrying a hunting knife just because it looks cool, it’s not a good idea. Consider, there is a lot of money involved.
(1 USD = 0.8979 EUR)
