Palestinian Terrorists Kill 11 Israeli Athletes at Munich Olympics
Black September commandos take Israeli Olympic team hostage in Munich, leading to tragic massacre that shocks the world.
MUNICH - Eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team were killed today after Palestinian terrorists from the Black September organization took them hostage at the Olympic Village, turning the games of peace into a scene of horror.
Eight Palestinian commandos scaled the fence of the Olympic Village at 4:30 AM, bursting into the Israeli team quarters. They killed wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg and weightlifter Yossef Romano in initial struggles before taking nine others hostage.
The terrorists demanded the release of 234 Palestinians from Israeli prisons and safe passage to Egypt. After day-long negotiations, German authorities agreed to transport the gunmen and hostages to Fürstenfeldbruck military airport.
The rescue attempt at the airport turned catastrophic. German sharpshooters opened fire, triggering a gun battle in which all nine remaining hostages were killed—some shot by terrorists, others dying when a terrorist grenade exploded in a helicopter.
“They’re all gone,” IOC spokesman Hans Klein announced to stunned journalists at 3 AM. Five terrorists and one German policeman also died in the firefight.
The attack was claimed by Black September, the group formed after Jordan’s 1970 expulsion of Palestinian guerrillas. “We wanted to show the world that the Palestinian people exist,” a surviving terrorist told interrogators.
Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, her voice breaking with emotion, vowed revenge: “We will hunt down these murderers wherever they hide. Jewish blood will not be spilled with impunity.”
The Olympics, suspended for 34 hours, will resume tomorrow after a memorial service. IOC President Avery Brundage declared, “The games must go on,” a decision criticized by many as insensitive.
The Munich massacre marks a horrific escalation in Palestinian terrorism, bringing their conflict to the world stage through cold-blooded murder. The image of a masked terrorist on the balcony will forever taint these Olympics.
German security failures are already under scrutiny. The country, eager to project a peaceful image after the 1936 Nazi Olympics, maintained minimal security. This tragedy will transform international event security forever.
For Israel, the attack reinforces determination never to negotiate with terrorists while likely triggering severe retaliation against Palestinian targets worldwide.