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Germany and Israel mark Munich massacre in ceremonies Germany and Israel mark Munich massacre in ceremonies
(35 minutes later)
German ministers have joined Israeli survivors of the Munich Olympics massacre at an airport near the city to mark the 40th anniversary of the event.German ministers have joined Israeli survivors of the Munich Olympics massacre at an airport near the city to mark the 40th anniversary of the event.
They have gathered at Fuerstenfeldbruck, the airport where most of the 11 Israeli victims were killed by their Palestinian captors. The audience at Fuerstenfeldbruck heard Christian and Jewish prayers, spoken against a backdrop of the faces of the victims, 11 Israelis and one German.
The gunmen had seized Israeli athletes inside the Olympic Village. Wreaths were laid earlier inside the Olympic Village where Palestinian gunmen seized the athletes.
Wreaths were laid at the site on Wednesday ahead of the commemoration at the airport. Most of the Israelis were killed by their captors at the airport.
"We are coming here not just to remember, but also to see the future, that it will not happen again," said Israeli fencer Dan Alon, who was part of the 1972 team. Israeli fencer Dan Alon, who was part of the 1972 team, said he hoped such an attack could never happen again.
Also at the ceremony in the Olympic Village were the mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, and other local officials.
A petition by widows of the victims to remember the dead with a minute's silence at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on 27 July was rejected by Jacques Rogge, head of the International Olympic Committee.A petition by widows of the victims to remember the dead with a minute's silence at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on 27 July was rejected by Jacques Rogge, head of the International Olympic Committee.
Instead, a minute's silence was observed at a ceremony headed by Mr Rogge inside London's Olympic Village.Instead, a minute's silence was observed at a ceremony headed by Mr Rogge inside London's Olympic Village.
Widows and survivorsWidows and survivors
The southern German state of Bavaria has ordered flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast to commemorate the massacre, AFP news agency reports.The southern German state of Bavaria has ordered flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast to commemorate the massacre, AFP news agency reports.
Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich and other German officials, including the head of the country's Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, were due to attend the ceremony at Fuerstenfeldbruck along with some 500 people.Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich and other German officials, including the head of the country's Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, were due to attend the ceremony at Fuerstenfeldbruck along with some 500 people.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom was due to be there with a special 21-member delegation that includes widows and relatives of the victims, as well as survivors of the attack, the Israeli foreign ministry reports.Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom was due to be there with a special 21-member delegation that includes widows and relatives of the victims, as well as survivors of the attack, the Israeli foreign ministry reports.
Among the Israelis expected to attend was the manager of the 1972 Olympic Delegation, Mr Shmuel Lalkin.Among the Israelis expected to attend was the manager of the 1972 Olympic Delegation, Mr Shmuel Lalkin.
A tree was to be planted to remember the victims and an exhibition of photos depicting the massacre and its aftermath will be opened.A tree was to be planted to remember the victims and an exhibition of photos depicting the massacre and its aftermath will be opened.
'Warnings ignored''Warnings ignored'
On 5 September 1972, eight gunmen burst into the Israeli athletes' quarters, killing two immediately and taking nine athletes and coaches hostage.On 5 September 1972, eight gunmen burst into the Israeli athletes' quarters, killing two immediately and taking nine athletes and coaches hostage.
They demanded the release of more than 200 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, and took their hostages to the airport, where a rescue attempt was made by West German security forces.They demanded the release of more than 200 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, and took their hostages to the airport, where a rescue attempt was made by West German security forces.
During the fighting that followed, the gunmen killed their remaining nine hostages. Five of the gunmen were killed, as was one German policeman.During the fighting that followed, the gunmen killed their remaining nine hostages. Five of the gunmen were killed, as was one German policeman.
Israeli athlete Esther Roth-Shachamorov, who lost her coach Amitzur Shapira in the attack, had been scheduled to run in the semi-finals of the 100-metre hurdles on the day after the massacre.Israeli athlete Esther Roth-Shachamorov, who lost her coach Amitzur Shapira in the attack, had been scheduled to run in the semi-finals of the 100-metre hurdles on the day after the massacre.
"Instead of running, we found ourselves in the stadium for the memorial service," she told AFP news agency at her home near Tel Aviv this week. "There we stood, crying.""Instead of running, we found ourselves in the stadium for the memorial service," she told AFP news agency at her home near Tel Aviv this week. "There we stood, crying."
The West German authorities were accused by Israel of having failed to provide adequate security at the Games, recently declassified Israeli official documents show.The West German authorities were accused by Israel of having failed to provide adequate security at the Games, recently declassified Israeli official documents show.
German police "didn't make even a minimal effort to save human lives", former Mossad head Zvi Zamir said at the time after returning from Munich. The documents also show evidence of failures by Israeli security forces.German police "didn't make even a minimal effort to save human lives", former Mossad head Zvi Zamir said at the time after returning from Munich. The documents also show evidence of failures by Israeli security forces.
A recent article in German news magazine Der Spiegel has suggested that German officials ignored explicit warnings that a terrorist attack might take place at the Munich Games.A recent article in German news magazine Der Spiegel has suggested that German officials ignored explicit warnings that a terrorist attack might take place at the Munich Games.
In a statement to mark the anniversary, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague described the attack as a "shocking act of evil" which had "betrayed everything the Olympic movement stands for".In a statement to mark the anniversary, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague described the attack as a "shocking act of evil" which had "betrayed everything the Olympic movement stands for".