Munich city officials say they’re banning backpacks from this year’s Oktoberfest and plan to erect a fence in an effort to increase security after recent attacks rattled Germany.
Deputy mayor Josef Schmid said Wednesday that bags of more than 3 liters (0.8 gallons) in capacity won’t be allowed into the annual beer celebration, which runs September 17-October 3. The number of security staff also will be increased.
Schmid said a 350-meter fence will be put up to secure a previously open entrance to the festival grounds.
In July, Bavaria was shaken by three attacks in a week. Two were carried out by asylum-seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group. Only the attackers were killed. Separately, a teenager killed nine people in a shooting rampage in Munich.