WATCH: Jeremy Corbyn admits he was present at wreath laying for 'Munich Massacre terrorists'
3 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has admitted he was present at a memorial for the Palestinian terrorists who are thought to have carried out the Munich Massacre - but said he did not recall being involved in it.
The Labour leader has come under close scrutiny after the Daily Mail published photos reportedly proving his presence at the memorial in Tunisia in 2014.
Labour has insisted the party boss did not honour the terror leaders but was instead at a service for 47 Palestinians killed in an Israeli air strike in 1985.
But the paper said its pictures show Mr Corbyn standing 15 yards away from the monument to the air strike victims and in front of the graves of the Black September members.
The attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics saw 11 Israeli athletes murdered by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation splinter group.
A nearby plaque is said to honour Salah Khalad, founder of Black September, his aide Fakhri al-Omari, and PLO chief of security Hayel Abdel-Hamid.
All of them were assassinated by the Israeli secret service Mossad or rival Palestinian factions.
Breaking his silence on the issue during a visit to the West Midlands today, Mr Corbyn said: “A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended the conference to those who were killed in Paris in 1992.
“I was present when it was laid - I don’t think I was actually involved in it.”
He added: “I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere, because we have to end it.
“We cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way your pursue peace is through a cycle of dialogue.”
'INSULT'
Labour friends of Israel director Jennifer Gerber said: "Jeremy Corbyn's latest statement in a further insult to those savagely murdered at Munich and their bereaved relatives.
"He says he was paying respect to victims of terrorism when there is clear photographic evidence of him holding a wreath at the grave of the terrorists themselves.
"Jeremy Corbyn's appalling actions, and Labour's attempted cover up, is another truly shameful day for the party he leads."
Widows of two of the murdered athletes said they were “extremely disturbed” by the claims of Mr Corbyn’s visit.
Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romano told the Jewish News: “We do not recall a visit of Mr Corbyn to the graves of our murdered fathers, sons and husbands.
“They only went to the Olympic Games in order to participate in this festival of love, peace and brotherhood but they all returned home in coffins.”
A Labour spokesperson said: "The Munich widows are being misled. Jeremy did not honour those responsible for the Munich killings.
"He and other Parliamentarians went to the Palestinian cemetery in Tunisia to remember the victims of the 1985 Israeli bombing of the PLO headquarters, many of whom were civilians."
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has urged Mr Corbyn to resign over the photos published by the Daily Mail.
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