Police in the German city of Munich say the venue where Oktoberfest is taking place has been temporarily closed because of possible links to an explosion and fire at a house rigged with explosives.

A badly injured man was found at a nearby lake and later died.

Mayor Dieter Reiter said the festival site would remain closed until at least 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Wednesday because of an unspecified bomb threat.

A large-scale emergency operation was under way in Lerchenau in northern Munich. Police said potential links to other locations were being investigated, including the site of the annual beer festival.

A possible connection to the leftist Antifa movement was also investigated after a message was posted online claiming to be behind several incidents in northern Munich. Police said later that there was nothing to suggest a link and the message was “the work of copycats”.

Oktoberfest runs from 20 September until 5 October and it has already attracted more than 3.5 million visitors. It is described as both the world’s biggest folk and beer festival.

Police investigating the fire in Lerchenau said they believed a residential building was deliberately set alight as part of a family dispute. Nearby cars were also on fire.

Special forces were deployed to defuse booby traps in the house.

“The injured person who was found has since died. Another person is missing, but is not believed to pose any danger,” they added.

“Booby traps were also found in the affected building. Special forces were called in to defuse them.”

Numerous emergency personnel are on site.