Steinmeier calls for greater commitment against racism at OEZ memorial

In his speech, Steinmeier stressed that, for the bereaved and relatives, it had taken too long for the right-wing terrorist attack in the shopping center to also be recognized as such. He said verbatim: „dass es für die Hinterbliebenen und Angehörigen zu lange gedauert habe, bis der rechtsterroristische Anschlag in dem Einkaufszentrum auch als solcher anerkannt worden sei“.

Steinmeier's words to the bereaved

The Federal President also pointed to society's responsibility to speak about the backgrounds of such acts. "Über Ursachen und Konsequenzen solcher Verbrechen dürfe nicht geschwiegen werden", said Steinmeier. He coupled this with the call for more determined engagement against racism.

The memorial event took place at the scene of the crime, the Olympia shopping center. With this appearance, Steinmeier continued a series of similar appearances in recent years in which he had repeatedly called for a clear stance against right-wing extremism and group-related inhumanity.

In recent years, criticism had repeatedly been voiced from among the bereaved that the classification as a right-wing terrorist attack had only been made with a significant delay. On Wednesday, Steinmeier expressly took up this accusation and acknowledged failures in recognizing the motive for the crime.

Reactions from Bavaria and Munich

In her address, Aigner paid tribute to the role of civil society after the crime. Numerous Munich residents and initiatives had committed themselves in the following years to seeking clarification and against forgetting. Without this engagement, the memory of the victims would have remained less visible.

Munich Mayor Reiter recalled the immediate consequences of the attack for the city. The crime had lastingly shaken the sense of security of many people, in particular young migrants. The city had drawn consequences from this and expanded programs against racism and for the promotion of democracy.

The diversity of the victims was highlighted several times in the speeches. Among those killed were also young people who had only been living in Germany for a short time at the time of the crime. According to the speakers, their biographies symbolically represent an open, international urban society.

Consequences for survivors and urban society

Survivors of the attack, some of whom had been seriously injured, have repeatedly spoken publicly in recent years about the psychological consequences. Some of them still suffer from post-traumatic stress to this day. Representatives of the city promised those affected further support in processing what they experienced.

The event on Wednesday afternoon began at 4:00 p.m. and was designed as a quiet commemoration. Alongside speeches, musical contributions and the reading out of the names of the nine victims were also planned. Representatives of the religious communities offered prayers.

Steinmeier also used his appearance to recall the nationwide responsibility in the fight against right-wing extremism. The remembrance of July 22, 2016 must not be limited to Munich. In other cities as well, there had been violence motivated by racism or right-wing extremism in recent years.

Nationwide significance of the commemoration

In the run-up to the anniversary, several civil society organizations had called for a nationwide minute of silence. Schools in Munich were invited to commemorate the victims in class. The Bavarian state government also participated with an official declaration in the commemoration.

The right-wing terrorist attack at the Olympia shopping center was one of the most serious crimes motivated by right-wing extremism in the Federal Republic. The investigating authorities classified the act as right-wing terrorist on the basis of the racist motive, the targeted selection of victims, and the perpetrator's confessions.

Outlook on further remembrance work

With a view to future memorial events, representatives of the city and the state announced that remembrance work would be permanently institutionalized. Planned among other things are an expanded memorial site at the Olympia shopping center as well as a documentation center that is to examine the backgrounds of the attack.

The news was broadcast on 22.07.2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program. The memorial event thus found a nationwide echo in the media and once again brought the debate about racism and right-wing extremism in Germany into focus.