The festival is set to last until October 3 and is expected to be visited by about 6 million people. Social network users have already published their first photos featuring the festivities that took place in Munich on Saturday.
Even a few hours before the official opening, long queues were seen in front of the pavilions with the police thoroughly checking visitors' bags, Deutsche Welle reported. Those who wanted to take part in the event were also banned from taking their backpacks with them, a new safety precaution introduced this year and backed by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.
Earlier, a secret government report on domestic security said that the terrorist threat in Germany continues to increase and the country could be targeted at any time. Following a number of terror attacks Germany witnessed in July, German authorities toughened security measures at many major events taking place in the country.
