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Oktoberfest Hikes Security After al-Qaeda Warnings

Beer tents busy despite terror group's threats

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 30, 2009 3:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – The world's biggest beer festival now resembles a beer fortress after al-Qaeda videos hinted that the Munich Oktoberfest would be a target. Armed policemen now guard all the entrances to the festival, and fighter jets are patrolling overhead. People have been warned not to bring in large bags, and the lederhosen and dirndl-clad beer lovers are subject to searches, Der Spiegel reports.

One al-Qaeda video warned that Germany shouldn't consider Afghanistan "a beer tent in which it can celebrate the Oktoberfest all year round," and threatened reprisals if Germany keeps its troops in the country. Oktoberfest organizers say that the beer tents are as busy as ever despite the tight security. "If someone cancels their table reservations, we'll fill the tents with people who are less afraid," said one official.

German police officers are on patrol at Munich's Oktoberfest.
German police officers are on patrol at Munich's Oktoberfest.   (AP Photo/Christof Stache,file)
A German policeman checks the backpack of an Oktoberfest visitor in downtown Munich.
A German policeman checks the backpack of an Oktoberfest visitor in downtown Munich.   (AP Photo/Uwe Lein)
German police are parked at an entrance of the Oktoberfest beer festival in downtown Munich.
German police are parked at an entrance of the Oktoberfest beer festival in downtown Munich.   (AP Photo/Uwe Lein)
German policemen talk to a waitress at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich.
German policemen talk to a waitress at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich.   (AP Photo/Uwe Lein)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
rockermocking
Sep 30, 2009 11:20 AM CDT
nooooo!
WallyEFunk
Sep 30, 2009 2:20 AM CDT
I hope this is not the signs of the times. Those bastards, would be winning then.

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