Today in History: Terrorists take Israeli athletes hostage at the 1972 Olympics
Members of the Black September terrorist group kidnapped nine Israeli athletes and officials at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
In the early hours of 5 September, six members of the Arab terrorist group known as Black September dressed in the Olympic tracksuits of the Arab nations kidnapped a number of Israeli athletes and officials.
They jumped the fence surrounding the Olympic village in Munich, Germany, carrying bags filled with guns. Although guards spotted them, they paid little attention because athletes often jumped the fence during the competition to return to their living quarters.
After changing into their disguises, the terrorists burst into the apartments of 21 Israeli athletes and officials. Yossef Gutfreund, a wrestling referee who valiantly tried to keep the terrorists out, saved Tuvia Sokolovsky, who was able to climb out a window and escape.
In another apartment, Moshe Weinberg was shot 12 times but still managed to wound one of the terrorists and save the life of one of his teammates.
Black September succeeded in taking nine hostages before demanding the release of 234 prisoners – most of whom were Arab terrorists. The demands were categorically refused, but it was eventually agreed that the terrorists and the hostages would be taken to the Furstenfeldbruck Airport by helicopter and given a plane.
The German government planned an ambush at the airport, stationing sharpshooters around the runway and officers in the aeroplane. However, the plan quickly disintegrated when the officers in the plane, worried about their lack of preparation, deserted.
There weren’t nearly enough sharpshooters to effectively take down all of the terrorists either, partly because the Germans didn’t realise that two other terrorists had joined the Black September attack.
Still, the ambush was carried out. Three terrorists were taken out in the first wave of shots, but the others were able to hide out of range. One threw a grenade into a helicopter where five hostages were still tied up, instantly killing them all. Another terrorist fired his machine gun into another helicopter, killing the remaining hostages.
Twenty hours after Black September had begun their attack, a German police official, five Palestinian terrorists, and 11 Israeli athletes lay dead. Three of the terrorists who survived were imprisoned, but were set free a month later when Arabs hijacked a Lufthansa 727 aircraft and demanded their release.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
