Germany on Monday sought "forgiveness" from families of victims in the Munich Olympics attack 50 years on, admitting responsibility for a litany of failings that led to the deaths of 11 Israelis.

"As head of state of this country and in the name of the Federal Republic of Germany, I ask you for forgiveness for the lack of protection of the Israeli athletes at the time of the Olympic Games in Munich and the lack of clarification afterward, and for the fact that what happened happened," said President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a ceremony marking 50 years since the attack, addressing relatives of the victims.