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Munich Massacre Case Closed No Fault Found with Police Measures, Security Arrangements

February 8, 1973
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The Bonn government declared today that the case of the massacre of 11 Israeli Olympic athletes by Arab terrorists in Munich last Sept. 5 was officially closed. The announcement was made following yesterday’s publication of the Public Prosecutor’s report which found no fault with either the police measures taken or the security provided for the Israeli team.

The Public Prosecutor said he closed the case against the authorities responsible for directing the police action at Fuerstenfeldbruch military airport where nine of the 11 Israeli hostages were murdered after German sharp-shooters failed to effect their release. The operation was directed by Bruno Merk, the Bavarian Minister of Interior, and Munich Police Chief Dr. Manfred Schreiber.

The report said the Bavarian police had acted “within the framework of their duties” and that it could not be ruled out that the Israeli team members and the German police officer killed would still have lost their lives if other police measures had been taken. The report said the security measures for the Israeli team were considered adequate and that no extra precautions had been demanded by the Israelis.

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