According to consistent media reports, there could soon be an agreement between the federal government and the relatives of the victims of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack. Germany is prepared to pay a total of 28 million euros in compensation to the families of the eleven Israeli athletes and coaches killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on September 5, 1972.
The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the “Stern” had previously reported on it. According to “Stern”, more than 20 million euros of the total should come from federal funds and the rest from Bavaria and the city of Munich.
The widow of the Israeli fencing coach André Spitzer, who was killed in the attack, Ankie Spitzer, had previously told the dpa that negotiations were still ongoing. In principle, however, one hopes for a positive outcome. Spitzer said that if an agreement was reached, the survivors could still attend the commemoration ceremony in Munich on September 5th.
On September 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists attacked the Israeli team at the Olympic Games in Munich. Eleven members of the team and one policeman were killed. The safety precautions were considered inadequate, and an attempt by the German forces to free them ended in disaster. Adequate compensation for the survivors of the attack 50 years ago has been a struggle for decades. They also demand an apology.
In 1972 and 2002, Germany paid around 4.6 million euros as a humanitarian gesture for those affected. In addition, around half a million euros came from the National Olympic Committee and donations from the German Red Cross. In 1994, victims’ families demanded 40 million marks (around 20.45 million euros) in damages in court, citing massive mistakes made during the police operation as the reason for this. The lawsuit failed due to the statute of limitations.
