Munich memorial case smashed as victims' items stolen

Vandals in Munich smashed a glass display case at the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation site on Monday and stole items honoring the victims of the 1958 air disaster. The incident occurred on Manchesterplatz, where a memorial marks the location of the plane crash that killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.

German police said the case was broken with a stone between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time. Mark Salzmann, chairman of the Bayern Munich supporters' group Red Docs Munich, said his mother discovered the damage while driving past. She stopped after noticing the glass was smashed and found the interior had been raided.

Among the stolen objects were several medals and a glass sculpture that had been presented to Munich's former mayor, Dieter Reiter. Salzmann noted that the items were unique and could not be easily replaced. His group is now working with the foundation to source potential replacements for the lost artifacts.

Ifty Ahmed, chair of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation, described the organization as deeply saddened by the theft. He stated that while the vandals damaged the case, they could not steal the memories or diminish the friendship between the two cities. The foundation agreed to cover the repair costs, despite an offer from Manchester United to pay.

The memorial stone at the site was installed in 2004. The glass display case was added in 2020 and officially inaugurated in 2023. Red Docs Munich, which helps care for the site, replaced the broken glass the same day the vandalism occurred.

The plane had stopped in Munich to refuel before crashing during its takeoff attempt on February 6, 1958. The team was returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade, which was then part of Yugoslavia. Salzmann said the outpouring of support he received confirmed the enduring bond between Manchester and Munich.