On This Day: September 5th - Black September

It was 1972 and the Summer Olympics were taking place in Munich, Germany. Tragedy ensued when some Palestinian terrorists broke into the apartment complex where several Israeli athletes were staying. They killed two and took nine other Israeli athletes hostage. The Palestinian Terrorists were demanding that Israel release a number of prisoners that were being held inside of a Israeli prison. The group of Terrorists known as Black September had only this in mind when they took the hostages to the Munich airport in order to demand the release of the prisoners in Israel. The kidnapping led to a deadly shootout at the Munich airport where every hostage and terrorist was killed. The hostages were killed by gunfire while sitting in the backside of a helicopter.

After this took place, all Olympic events were shut down for a 24 hour period to mourn the dead Israeli athletes. To prove that the Black September Assassins had not ruined the Olympic games, the Olympic committee decided to not end the Olympic games. This event is historically significant because of the sheer hatred and violence that occurred during an event that was meant to bring nations together. It also reflects the ongoing turmoil between Israel and Palestine. For a good perspective on this event, watch the 2005 movie "Munich" directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on a true story, the film chronicles the story of several Mossad Agents hired by the Israeli government to avenge the deaths of the athletes killed on this day by the Black September terrorists.

Israeli athletes killed at Munich Olympics." 2008. The History Channel website. 13 Sep 2008, 06:34 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=52846.