Luxembourg Police Provide ‘Advantageous’ Support at Munich’s Oktoberfest

On Thursday 2 October 2025, the Grand Ducal Police published details of its participation in providing security measures at Munich’s Oktoberfest.

According to the police, the Répression du Grand Banditisme (Suppression of Organized Crime) division of the Luxembourg Criminal Police actively participated in police operations at the Oktoberfest. Working alongside colleagues from Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and other European countries, Luxembourg officers contributed to combating property crime and strengthening cross-border police cooperation.

The focus of the deployment was in support of pickpocket investigations, particularly during the so-called “Italian Weekend”, which traditionally attracts high visitor numbers. Luxembourg participated for the first time as part of an established concept for international police cooperation at major events, which has been in place since 2008.

In addition to operational support, the Grand Ducal Police stated that the deployment brought international expertise, with specialised units assisting through their extensive experience in property crime. The joint operation also enabled officers to respond effectively to victims and suspects, leveraging linguistic and cultural diversity, which the police noted was “advantageous” at an internationally attended festival such as Oktoberfest.

The Grand Ducal Police reported that numerous arrests where perpetrators were “caught in the act” underlined the success of the cooperation. Luxembourg investigators took part directly or indirectly in twelve arrests alone. Examples of this included arrests made on the evening of Saturday 20 September 2025, where Luxembourg officers, working together with units from Munich, Berlin and Lisbon, apprehended several suspects following a serious gang theft. Similarly, on Sunday 21 September 2025, international investigators – including officers from Paris and Luxembourg – successfully resolved a case involving pickpocketing.

The Grand Ducal Police noted that the participation of the Luxembourg Criminal Police extended beyond operational benefits and symbolised the close and trusted cooperation of European security forces, with direct, personal exchanges, robust contacts and networks developed over the years, proving valuable beyond major events – whether in cross-border investigations or in day-to-day coordination at short notice.