Items stolen from Man Utd Munich air disaster memorial

Four medals and a crystal trophy were stolen from the Manchester Munich Memorial in Germany on Monday after a glass display case was smashed.

Items commemorating victims of the 1958 Munich air disaster were stolen from a memorial at Manchesterplatz in Munich on Monday, 26 October. German newspaper Hallo München reported that four medals and a crystal trophy were taken from a glass display case that was smashed with a stone between 08:00 and 13:00 local time.

The memorial marks the site of the plane crash on 6 February 1958 which killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players, as the club returned from a European Cup match in Belgrade. The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation said it was "deeply saddened" by the theft. Foundation chair Ifty Ahmed said: "Those responsible may have damaged a display case and stolen treasured items, but they cannot steal our memories, diminish our friendship or destroy the legacy of those we remember."

Manchester United offered to pay for repairs, but the foundation agreed to cover the costs itself. The broken glass was replaced the same day, with thanks to Red Docs Munich, a Bayern Munich supporters' group that helps care for the memorial.