On September 26, 1980, at 22:19, a bomb exploded at the main entrance to the Oktoberfest in Munich. The bomb, which had been put together by an apparently politically motivated individual, had planted at waist level in a litter bin. Reconstruction from the fragments found at the site and in the bodies of the victims indicated that the bomb was made from a British mortar projectile, manufactured in 1954, which had been modified to ensure particularly intensive fragmentation. The area affected by the explosion was the size of a soccer field. The effects of the explosion were extremely severe (Figures 1-3): 13 fatalities and approximately 225 nonfatal casualties, of which approximately 50 were severely injured.

Thanks to quick, accurate reporting of this major disaster to the Munich Emergency Control Center, which acts as the central coordinating point in case of emergencies, a contingency plan was put into action, which had proved to be effective for disasters involving more than 35 injured. This plan calls for the dispatching of 5 ambulances staffed with physicians, all other available ambulances and the alerting of all hospitals which may have to receive casualties.