Police and fire services have presented a largely positive assessment to conclude the 190th Oktoberfest celebration. Officials reported a “peaceful and predominantly relaxed atmosphere” throughout the event.
Law enforcement recorded a total of 1,598 incidents within the Oktoberfest grounds, a decrease of 9.4% compared to the previous year. While the number of offenses and violations rose to 784, representing an 11.0% increase over 2024, it remains 15.7% lower than the figures recorded in 2023.
“No cases of homicide were reported this year” police confirmed. However, instances of crimes against sexual self-determination saw a rise, with 72 reported incidents, up from 56 in 2024 and 67 in 2023. These incidents primarily involved sexual harassment, with 10 cases involving the unauthorized photographing of intimate body parts (“upskirting”). Five cases were classified as rape, a rise from two in 2024 and six in 2023.
Assaults resulted in 236 charges, slightly exceeding the previous year’s figure of 212. Of these, 75 were classified as grievous bodily harm, often involving multiple perpetrators or the use of a dangerous object. Police noted that in 24 cases, these injuries were caused by the use of beer mugs (“Maßkrug”). There were 25 instances of resisting or attacking police officers, up from 22 in 2024. This resulted in 17 officers sustaining injuries, compared to 12 in the prior period. Breathalyzer tests conducted on suspects frequently revealed significant levels of intoxication. One hundred and seventy charges were filed for theft, an increase from 158 in 2024, with eight suspects taken into custody.
Meanwhile, fire services responded to 1,534 incidents, up from 1,474 in the previous year and down from 1,641 in 2023. The expanded paramedic service deployed during the festival had 136 operational deployments by Sunday morning, an increase from 121 in 2024. This enhanced service was automatically activated in cases involving life-threatening conditions.
