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Munich 1972: A Cold Case Reopened
A historical and legal investigation into the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, exploring decades of inaction by German authorities and the potential involvement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
German
Germany
International RelationsJusticeHuman Rights ViolationsMiddle EastGermany TerrorismHistoryCold Case
PloLufthansaBundesanwaltschaftHisbollahGerman Federal Ministry Of Justice
Mahmoud AbbasAbdullah Mohamed SamerMohammed El-SafadiAbu DaudAnkie Spitzer
- What happened during the 1972 Munich Olympics?
- The 1972 Munich Olympics massacre saw Palestinian terrorists kill 11 Israeli athletes. Despite the gravity of the crime, German authorities conducted a half-hearted investigation, largely ignoring the case for decades.
- What is the current status of the surviving terrorists?
- Two surviving terrorists, Abdullah Mohamed Samer and Mohammed el-Safadi, are believed to still be alive, residing in Jordan and Lebanon, respectively. Despite this knowledge, no one has been successfully prosecuted for the attack.
- How is Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas implicated in the attack?
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is implicated in the attack, allegedly having financed it. A witness, Ankie Spitzer, claims Abbas admitted his involvement in the funding of the attack.
- Why was there a lack of investigation in the decades following the attack?
- The German government's inaction for decades was due in part to the fact that prosecuting the surviving terrorists in absentia was not possible under German law and that sufficient evidence against Abbas and others was not initially available.
- What recent developments are taking place to address the events of Munich 1972?
- The case has been reopened recently, spurred by pressure from the victims' families. A joint effort involving historians and legal experts aims to fully investigate the attack and the failures of the German authorities.