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The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation has expressed deep sorrow after items commemorating the victims of the 1958 air disaster were stolen from the memorial site in Munich. The act of vandalism took place on Monday, when a display case at Manchesterplatz in the German city was smashed with a stone and treasured memorabilia linked to the tragedy was taken.
According to German newspaper Hallo München, police believe the break-in occurred between 08:00 and 13:00 local time. The memorial marks the location where, on 6 February 1958, the plane carrying the Manchester United squad crashed on their return from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade. The aircraft had stopped in Munich to refuel but crashed during takeoff, claiming 23 lives, including eight United players.
Foundation chairman Ifti Ahmed described the incident as deeply upsetting for the families of the victims and Manchester United supporters across the globe. "Those responsible may have damaged a display case and stolen items dear to us, but they cannot steal our memories, diminish the strength of our friendship, or destroy the legacy of those we remember," he said.
Ahmed extended his gratitude to Bayern Munich fan group Red Docs Munich, who assist with the upkeep of the memorial and reacted swiftly following the vandalism. The broken glass was replaced later that day. The foundation added that Manchester United offered to cover the repair costs, but the organisation opted to fund the restoration themselves.
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