The Foreign Secretary has paid tribute to the 11 Israeli athletes and the policeman killed in the terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 40 years ago today.

William Hague, who kept his role in the Foreign Office during Tuesday's reshuffle, released a statement in which he reminded people of the fact that the Israeli sportsmen were "innocent" when Palestinian terrorists from the Black September group infiltrated the Olympic Village to kill and kidnap them.

"It was a shocking act of evil which betrayed everything the Olympic movement stands for," said Mr Hague. "On today's sad anniversary we pay tribute to their memory and reiterate our determination to confront terrorism and stand with the victims of terrorism wherever it may occur."

The anniversary will be marked in parliament later today with a Westminster Hall debate on commemorating the massacre, secured by Harrow East MP Bob Blackman.

Also this evening, the Zionist Federation is hosting a screening of the film "One Day in September," which documents the terrible events of the hostage-taking and botched rescue mission.

Two Israeli Paralympians, Boaz Kramer and Shraga Weinberg, will be wearing black armbands during their final round match in the wheelchair tennis quad doubles gold medal match.

In Germany, dignitaries will be at the Fuerstenfeldbruck air base – the site of the massacre - for a service commemorating the attacks . Photographs of the victims will be on display and guests will include the German Interior Minister and the German Olympic Committee president. Israel's deputy prime minister Silvan Shalom will be there, as will Ankie Spitzer, whose husband was one of the athletes murdered by Black September.