Man charged with criminal damage after Manchester Arena memorial vandalised

It was only opened to the public last month, and hasn’t been officially inaugurated yet. Even so, one Anwar Hosseni aged 24 has felt fit to deface it. From the Manchester Evening News and the BBC

A man has been charged with criminal damage after the Manchester Arena memorial was vandalised. Anwar Hosseni, 24, of Twillbrook Drive, Salford, appeared at Tameside Magistrates Court this morning. (10th Feb)

It comes after police were made aware of damage to the ‘Glade of Light’ memorial on Victoria Street in Manchester city centre on Wednesday morning (February 9).

A series of lines were scratched into the white marble ‘halo’ featuring the names of the 22 who died in the May 2017 attack.

Mr Hosseni has been remanded into custody and is due to appear again at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on March 23.

Manchester City Council said the damage was “minor” and repairs would be made. A spokesman said: “It is sickening that someone should do something like this but we know the perpetrator does not reflect Manchester as a whole and the city will not tolerate disrespect to the memorial.” He added repairs would be made “as quickly as possible”.

Because Manchester’s official attitude was “Don’t look back in anger”.

The mother of Martyn Hett (Figen Murray, who was appointed OBE in the New Year Honours for her work in counter-terrorism following) who was killed in the bombing said whoever was responsible must have “dark hearts to do such a thing”.  She isn’t wrong. Figen Murray is the acceptable face of the mourning relatives with her emphasis on inter-faith and reconciliation. Other relatives more critical of the authorities who allowed the Abedi family into the country, and the climate that allowed them to plot terror do not get reported so often, if at all. Maybe she might reflect on what exactly is the ideology that ‘darkens’ their hearts. 

The tribute was conceived as a living memorial – a peaceful garden space for remembrance and reflection, featuring plants which grow naturally in the UK countryside and which have been selected to provide year-round colour and echo the changing seasons.

Around the anniversary of the bombing every year – May 22 – the white flowers of a hawthorn tree planted at its centre will bloom.