The Luxembourg government has for the first time apologised to its Jewish population for its role in the Holocaust, admitting that some officials were complicit in the killings.

Around a third of the Duchy’s Jews - 1,200 victims - were killed during its Nazi occupation, which lasted from May 1940 to September 1944.

The statement released on Wednesday, which was signed by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, read: “The government presents its apologies to the Jewish community for the suffering that was inflicted on it and the injustices that were committed against it, and recognises the responsibility of some public officials in the unforgivable events committed.”

The country’s parliament also passed a resolution on Tuesday which acknowledged the “suffering inflicted on the Jewish population, to its Luxembourgish and foreign members, during the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg.”

Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress, said the move - though positive - was overdue.

“We welcome this apology, even if it is very late and unfortunately many Holocaust survivors are not around to witness it.

“We continue to ... call on all relevant nations who have not done so, to follow this example and apologise for their roles in the Holocaust, especially as the number of survivors is starting to dwindle.”