An explosion in a residential building early Wednesday, thought to be linked to a domestic conflict, resulted in at least one fatality. Munich police stated that the fire was set intentionally.

It was not immediately clear whether the deceased was the suspected perpetrator or someone else.

Another person, who was not considered to be a danger to the public, remained missing.

Specialised teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the building, police said. Photos from the area also showed a burned-out van.

The alleged perpetrator issued a bomb threat to Oktoberfest through a letter. In response, police inspected the festival grounds for any additional explosives and instructed workers to evacuate the premises.

Authorities said the festival would be closed at least until 5pm on Wednesday (1am Thursday AEST).

This year’s Oktoberfest began on September 20 and ends on October 5.

The world’s largest beer festival usually attracts up to 6 million visitors.