Europe News

Security at Germany's Oktoberfest to be toughest ever

Sep 14, 2010, 18:35 GMT

Munich - Anti-terrorist security and anti-crime surveillance at Oktoberfest, which begins on September 18, are be tougher than ever before, German police in Munich said Tuesday.

A no-fly zone will apply in a radius of 3.7 kilometres from the central Munich site, while 50 heavy concrete pods will be placed on the fringes of the unfenced site to block potential car bombers.

Streets near the site will be completely closed to private traffic and taxis, the police said.

'We've been preparing this for 11 months and we're all ready to go,' said Robert Kopp, the city's deputy police chief.

The force is to deploy 300 officers at the festival and keep a close eye on the crowds using 17 remote-controlled video cameras. Known pickpockets have been served with prohibition orders barring them from Oktoberfest.

Kopp said there had not been any actual threat to disrupt the annual festival, but police 'abstractly' perceived it as being vulnerable.

Oktoberfest, which includes a funfair, celebrates Bavarian beer.