On the 50th anniversary of the assassination attempt on the Israeli Olympic team, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier apologized for the police’s failure at the time and the undignified treatment of the relatives. The September 5, 1972 hostage crisis ended with a botched police operation that killed a total of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team, five of their Palestinian captors, and a German police officer.
The September 5, 1972 hostage crisis ended with a botched police operation that killed a total of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team, five of their Palestinian captors, and a German police officer.
commemoration with relatives
“As the head of state of this country and on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, I ask your forgiveness, forgiveness for the lack of protection for the Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich and for the lack of education afterwards; that what happened can happen,” Steinmeier said at a memorial meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Fürstenfeldbruck, Bavaria.
“Without all of you, without the relatives, without the presence of the State of Israel, a dignified commemoration would not have been possible for me.”
28 million euros compensation
The survivors of the Israeli victims reached an agreement with the German government a few days ago. 28 million euros has now been secured as compensation for the suffering that has arisen. The federal government will receive 22.5 million euros, the Free State of Bavaria 5 million euros and the city of Munich 500,000 euros.
“Important, Just, Moral Step”
Israeli President Yizhak Herzog welcomed the compensation. “This is an important, honest, moral step,” he said in Fürstenfeldbruck. To the chagrin of the families came the pain of indifference and the feeling of abandonment. In this context, Duke Steinmeier also thanked him for his “courageous, historic speech” in which he asked forgiveness for the lack of protection for the athletes and the lack of information afterwards.
With the attack, the terrorists wanted to free more than 200 prisoners in Israel and the RAF terrorists Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof. In the early hours of September 5, 1972, the killers broke into the athletes’ quarters in the Olympic Village, shot two men dead and took nine hostages. About 18 hours later, a rescue attempt at the airport in Fürstenfeldbruck ended in a bloodbath. All nine hostages, police officer Anton Fliegerbauer and five murderers were killed.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
