Germany cooperated with Black September after Munich Massacre

German newspaper Der Spiegel revealed Sunday that German authorities cooperated with Black September, a Palestinian terror group, after it had carried out an attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Germany, it was reported, did so for fear of additional attacks on its soil.

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According to the report, the German government held secret contacts with the planners of the Munich Massacre. Several months after the attack, Germany's then foreign minister, Walter Scheel, met secretly with several Black September members to "rebuild trust."

Berlin demanded that the terror group not carry out any more terrorist attacks on German soil. The Palestinians, on their part, demanded Berlin's support of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

1972 Munich Olympic Games (Photo: Getty Images)

According to Der Spiegel, Germany suspended its criminal investigation against the massacre's perpetrators as the talks progressed. Several weeks later, the deputy foreign minister announced that the investigation had been concluded.

In 1977, French police asked Germany whether it wanted it to extradite Abu Daoud, one of the planners of the attack, but Germany decided not to answer the question.

The Munich Massacre was one of the first international terrorist attacks against Israeli targets of the 1970s.

Ilana Romano, wife of Israeli athlete Yossef Romano who was killed in the attack, said in response, "I am not surprised, this isn't new. We've known about this for a long time.

"It's sad that what we've been saying for years has only now been put forward. I thank Der Spiegel of publishing this information. Better late than never."

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