AIR DISASTER MEMORIAL VANDALIZED

MUNICH, OCTOBER 30 /SRNA/ - A glass sculpture and medals have been stolen from a memorial to the victims of the 1958 Munich air disaster, in which 23 people were killed, including eight players from popular English club "Manchester United".

The items were stolen from the display area at "Manchesterplatz" in Munich, at the site where the plane crashed on takeoff on February 6, 1958, after refueling on its way back from a European Cup match in Belgrade.

Munich police said the glass was smashed with a stone and the incident is believed to have taken place between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on October 26, the BBC reported.

Mark Salzmann, president of the "Red Docs" association, a group of Bayern Munich fans that helps maintain the memorial, said the stolen items were unique and would not be easy to replace, but that talks on possible replacements are under way.

Salzmann said the stolen glass sculpture had originally been presented to former Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter.

He said his group collects items left by visitors from different parts of the world and places them in the glass memorial, and that it was his mother who noticed the damage.

It is not yet known how many medals were stolen.

"Manchester United" offered to cover the cost of repairs, but the Munich air disaster memorial foundation has already agreed to pay for them.