Service held for Israelis killed at 1972 Olympics

Relatives and athletes joined in a memorial service yesterday for the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics, standing in a moment of silence and listening to songs and speeches.

Relatives and athletes joined in a memorial service yesterday for the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics, standing in a moment of silence and listening to songs and speeches.

On 5 September 1972, Palestinian terrorists stormed an Olympic Village apartment house at the Munich Olympics, killing two Israeli athletes and holding others hostage to try to gain the freedom of 200 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Amid tight security, 25 relatives of the murdered athletes were joined by the Israeli team competing at the European Championships here. The one-hour ceremony took place at the monument to the victims, a large stone tablet at the bridge linking the former Olympic village to the Olympic stadium. An Israeli flag was draped across the tablet as 11 candles burned and wreaths were laid at the foot of the monument.