(LONDON) -- Munich's famous Oktoberfest event briefly closed on Wednesday following a bomb threat linked to a fire at a residence in the north of the city, police said.
A 57-year-old German man who police said was behind the threat was found near the residence with a backpack containing an explosive device that had to be defused. He died by suicide, according to Munich police.
Oktoberfest resumed Wednesday afternoon following a search of the grounds involving explosive detection dogs, authorities noted.
"The threat has not been confirmed," Munich police said.
The man allegedly set fire to the residence during a family dispute in the Lerchenau district of northern Munich early Wednesday before taking his own life near a lake, police said.
Two other people -- the suspect's 81-year-old mother and 21-year-old daughter -- were injured during the incident and subsequently hospitalized, according to police.
Officials said they discovered "explosive devices" in the building and that special forces were called in to defuse the bombs.
Police said they also found a letter written by the suspect containing an unspecified threat of explosives related to Oktoberfest, prompting authorities to temporarily close the fairgrounds in the vast Theresienwiese public space for several hours to conduct the searches. The grounds opened at 5:30 p.m. local time.
The investigation is ongoing, officials noted.
In a video statement posted to X, Munich police spokesman Thomas Schelshorn said the "major operation" in Lerchenau had been underway since 4:45 a.m. Wednesday.
"We've discovered a burning house, a single-family home, burning cars nearby and a dead man at Lerchenau Lake, which may also be related to this," Schelshorn said.
"We also have an unspecified threat of explosives for the Theresienwiese," he added. "That's why cordoning off and searching measures are taking place here. And that's also why the Oktoberfest isn't opening on time today."
Police said there is no indication of any threat at other Munich locations.
ABC News' Felix Franz contributed to this report.
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