Munich expands Oktoberfest security with cameras and drone defences

Police and authorities in Munich are expanding security for the 191st Oktoberfest with a new coordination centre, 26 additional cameras and measures to detect and counter drones, BR reported on Wednesday. The plans also include new visitor rules after the festival grounds were closed several times last year because of overcrowding and a bomb threat caused concern.

The new coordination centre will help authorities work together and analyse camera footage to identify where crowds are forming and where numbers could become excessive. Artificial intelligence will be used to create “heat maps” showing potential overcrowding, allowing officials to intervene earlier. A crowdspotter will also remain in constant contact with the festival management and authorities.

Alongside the 56 police cameras, the City of Munich will install 26 additional cameras on the festival grounds. If overcrowding occurs, pre-written announcements will be broadcast over loudspeakers in several languages. The authorities faced criticism over their communication when the grounds were closed last year.

A knife ban will also apply beyond the festival grounds this year, including the area between the inner and middle security cordons.

Drones are another focus for Munich police. Christian Huber, deputy chief of the Munich police, said the issue had gained priority after a drone incident in Leipzig. Police have a system for drone detection and defence but are withholding details for operational reasons. The flight restriction over the festival grounds also applies to drones and recreational drone pilots, and violations will be punished consistently, Huber said.

About 600 police officers and additional security personnel will be deployed again. Up to 230 federal police officers will also work mainly at Munich railway stations, particularly the main station and Hackerbrücke. Italian police officers will support Munich police during the “Italian weekend”, the festival’s second weekend, while anti-pickpocket officers from eight countries will be on duty.

Emergency services will receive up to three additional emergency doctor vehicles, along with more rescue and patient transport vehicles.

Visitors will face entrance checks. Glass bottles and bags with a capacity of more than three litres are prohibited. Prams will not be allowed onto the grounds after 6 p.m. or on Saturdays. Security staff will again use hand-held scanners.

Munich police and the city’s municipal administrative department are urging visitors to leave their cars at home and use public transport. E-scooters are only of limited use because they cannot be parked in the restricted zones around the Theresienwiese. The same applies to rental electric bicycles.