Stolen Artifacts and Broken Glass: Vandalism at Munich Crash Memorial
Police say a stone was used to smash the display case on Manchesterplatz, taking medals and a sculpture dedicated to the 1958 victims.
By Austin Reed ·
The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation confirmed that items commemorating the 1958 air disaster were stolen from a display case in Munich. The foundation described the incident as deeply saddening for those who maintain the site.
German newspaper Hallo München reported that the theft occurred on Monday. Munich Police told local reporters that the glass case at Manchesterplatz was smashed with a stone. The force believes the damage happened between 08:00 and 13:00 local time.
The memorial marks the spot where a Manchester United plane crashed while attempting to take off on February 6, 1958. The aircraft had stopped in Munich to refuel after a European Cup tie in Belgrade. The crash killed 23 people, including eight United players. A stone marker was installed in 2004, and a glass display case was added in 2020, with its official inauguration in 2023.
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 something was wrong and found the glass shattered. Salzmann listed the stolen objects as a glass sculpture originally presented to former mayor Dieter Reiter and several medals. His group collects tributes from fans around the world for the case.
Ifty Ahmed, chair of the foundation, said the responsible parties could damage the physical case but could not steal the memories or destroy the legacy of the victims. He noted the site is particularly important to the families of the perished and to United supporters globally. The foundation stated that United offered to cover repair costs, but the foundation agreed to pay for the work itself. Broken glass was replaced the same day.
Salzmann said his group is considering sourcing replacements for the unique items with the foundation. He cited messages of support received since the incident, noting that the friendship between Manchester and Munich will never go away. The BBC contacted Munich Police and Manchester United for further comment.
The foundation thanked Red Docs Munich for acting quickly to repair the damage. The group said the stolen items could not be easily replaced. Police have not released additional details regarding the suspect or the method of escape.
