The organising committee of the Oktoberfest has today, August 17, 2017 announced new security measures for the beer festival, muenchen.de, the City of Munich’s official website, reports. As we have written on multiple occasions, following the July shooting at the OEZ shopping mall, the axe attack on a train in Wurzburg and the Ansbach bombing, Oktoberfest organisers have reviewed the security concept of the festival which begins in exactly on month, September 17.

The new security measures announced today include a ban on backpacks and larger bags (precisely bags with a volume of more than 3 litres), a mobile fence will be erected in the last unfenced part of the Theresienwiese festival grounds to ensure no one can avoid the security checks, as shown in below map. Additionally, visitors won’t be able to reach the Theresienwiese directly from the U-Bahn station of the same name. There will also be controls at all entrances

"We want to do everything we can in terms of security so that the people of Munich and their guests can revel in a relaxed way," Josef Schmid, Munich's deputy mayor told reporters. "We looked at all options," dw.com reports.

6 million beer loving visitors are expected at the 183rd instalment of the traditional Bavarian beer festival in 2016. This year the Oktoberfest is set to take place at the Theresienwiese from Saturday, September 17 until Monday, October 3 (German Reunification Day).