Munich commemorates: 9 years after the tragic OEZ attack

Munich commemorates: 9 years after the tragic OEZ attack

On July 22, 2025, Munich will remember the victims of the racially motivated attack at the Olympia shopping center (OEZ), which occurred on the same date in 2016. With a memorial event at the “For You” monument starting at 5:30 p.m., the city will remember the nine people who died as a result of violence by an 18-year-old, as well as the numerous injured people left behind by this crime. The young man took his own life after the attack, which only reinforces the tragedy of this event.

The memorial event, which will be broadcast both on site and as a live stream, will be enriched by Mayor Dieter Reiter and relatives of the victims. In addition, survivors of other racist attacks in Germany, such as in Halle and Hanau, have agreed to speak. This joint remembrance should not only honor the victims, but also send a strong signal against racism and underline the importance of cohesion in society. The commemoration is supported by the city of Munich as well as by relatives and activists who were closely involved in the planning. Munich.de reports that Hanauer Straße will be largely closed for the event and that the closure will last until 10 p.m.

Criticism of remembrance and the culture of remembrance

The situation surrounding the memorial event also illustrates the challenges associated with remembrance work. There are numerous voices who report that relatives and survivors of racist violence are often not sufficiently included in memorial discussions. Amnesty International highlights that this is crucial for an inclusive and fair culture of remembrance. Gisela Kollmann, a relative of one of the victims, criticizes the quick decision to create the memorial site, which was made without comprehensive involvement of those affected.

Margareta Zabërgja has also expressed concerns and is in favor of a closer look at the right-wing extremist background of the attack. Their call for an open discussion on the issue shows the urgent need for critical reflection on the past in order to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

New memorial initiatives in Munich

As part of the preparations for the ninth anniversary, the city council decided that new memorial graves should be set up for the victims, which will be designed in cooperation with the relatives. A joint application was also submitted for a memorial plaque in Munich's town hall, which should be created by the tenth anniversary of the attack. This plaque will be installed in the ceremonial courtyard of the town hall in addition to the existing memorial plaque for the victims of the Oktoberfest attack.

In addition, a new memorial room for the victims was opened in Moosach in April 2025, replacing the previous room on Dienerstrasse. This step is seen as an important contribution to the culture of remembrance and is intended to provide a place where relatives, supporters and survivors can come together to share and process their experiences.

The commemoration on July 22nd is a clear expression of the cohesion and solidarity necessary to combat division in society. The voices of family members advocating for greater inclusion and more active participation in memorial sites and conversations are an important part of this process. tz.de highlights the importance of keeping the victims' stories alive and creating a collective memory that takes up the challenge of respectful commemoration.