Munich memorial for 1958 crash victims damaged and robbed

The glass display case at Manchesterplatz in Munich was smashed with a stone on Monday. Police believe the incident occurred between 08:00 and 13:00 local time. Several items inside the case were stolen. The memorial marks the site where a plane crashed on 6 February 1958. The crash killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.

Munich Police confirmed the damage to local reporters. They identified the stone as the tool used to break the glass. The case was installed in 2020 and officially inaugurated in 2023. A memorial stone had stood at the site since 2004. The plane had stopped in Munich to refuel before departing for Belgrade.

Mark Salzmann, chairman of Red Docs Munich, said his mother found the damage. She was driving past the site and noticed something was wrong. She stopped and saw the broken glass. Salzmann said the group collects tributes from supporters and places them in the case. His mother reported the incident to the group's caretakers.

Stolen items included a glass sculpture and several medals. The sculpture had originally been presented to Munich's former mayor, Dieter Reiter. Salzmann said the objects were unique and difficult to replace. His group is now looking into sourcing replacements with the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation.

Ifty Ahmed, chair of the foundation, said the organization was deeply saddened. Manchester United offered to pay for repairs, but the foundation agreed to cover the costs. Ahmed stated that the damage did not diminish the friendship between Manchester and Munich. He noted the memorial is vital for families of the victims and fans worldwide.

Red Docs Munich helped replace the broken glass on the day of the incident. Ahmed thanked the Bayern Munich supporters' group for their quick action. Salzmann said messages of support from around the world showed the site's importance. He described the bond between the two cities as something that will never go away.

The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation manages the site. The foundation said it remains focused on preserving the memory of those lost. The repair work is complete, and the display case is back in place. The foundation continues to accept tributes from visitors.