Munich man sets parents' house on fire and threatens oktoberfest
A family dispute in Munich escalated dramatically when a 52-year-old man set fire to his parents' house and threatened an attack on the Oktoberfest. Police arrested the man without incident. No one was injured in the arson attempt.
The incident occurred on September 18, 2023, in Munich's Obermenzing district. According to police, the 52-year-old man broke into his parents' house after a long-standing family dispute escalated. He poured out a flammable liquid and set it alight, causing a fire in the ground floor. The parents were not home at the time.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly, and there were no injuries. Shortly after the act, the man called the police and threatened an attack on the Oktoberfest, which was underway at the time. "I will blow up the Oktoberfest," he reportedly said, according to a police spokesperson.
Officers traced the call and arrested him at his apartment. The man, who has prior convictions, now faces charges of arson, threats, and trespassing. Police rule out any terrorism links and classify it as an escalation of a private dispute.
The Oktoberfest, which draws millions of visitors annually, was not affected by the threat. Security measures were nonetheless tightened. The case highlights how personal conflicts can lead to dangerous actions without broader motives.