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BERLIN (AP) — Heavy metal fans planning to attend this year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany might want to travel light.
Organizers say rucksacks and bags are banned from the main festival grounds this year for security reasons.
Safety concerns have increased at public events across Germany since a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a music festival in Ansbach last month, injuring 15 people.
Wacken spokeswoman Anna Lorenz said Tuesday that checking rucksacks would slow security checks too much.
But festival-goers will be able to take in waist packs, and larger bags are still allowed at camping sites nearby.
The Aug. 4-6 festival , held in a small village northwest of Hamburg, is expected to draw 75,000 people this year. The over 120 acts include Iron Maiden, Saxon and Blind Guardian.
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