German police tighten Oktoberfest security over terrorism fearsSeptember 17, 2016 - 16:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Police in Germany have tightened security for this year's Oktoberfest over terrorism fears, BBC News reports. The world's biggest beer festival will be fenced off for the first time to ensure visitors go through security checks, authorities say. About six million visitors are expected to visit Munich for the 17-day event, which runs until 3 October. Southern Germany was rocked by a series of attacks this summer, though not all were linked to political motives. "We don't see any special risk for Oktoberfest, but it's clear such an internationally known festival would naturally be a possible attack target,'' Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told the Associated Press. He said there remains a "fundamentally high risk of terror attacks in Germany overall.'' Backpacks and large bags will be banned from the festival site and more police than usual are being deployed. Some 450 security guards will be on-site and 29 security cameras will keep watch on festivities. "The adapted safety concept adequately reacts to recent events without changing the basic character of the Oktoberfest," Munich Mayor Josef Schmid said. Ten people were killed and dozens more injured in separate gun, bomb, axe and machete attacks in Germany's south during one week in July, several of them in Bavaria. An axe attack on a train in Wuerzburg by a teenage Afghan refugee was claimed by so-called Islamic State, while a rejected Syrian asylum seeker who blew himself up in Ansbach had pledged allegiance to the group. But police ruled out a political motive for an 18-year-old gunman who killed nine people and then himself in a Munich shooting spree. These events had led authorities to "re-evaluate the Oktoberfest safety concept," said Dr Thomas Bohle of Munich's Department of Public Order. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |