Sentenced for damaging the Glade of Light Memorial

A 24-year-old man has been sentenced today at Manchester Crown Court for damaging the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester.

Anwar Hosseni 24 from Salford has been sentenced to a two-year community order with a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 10 days' activity requirement. A Criminal Behaviour Order was also made for two years to prevent further offences.

The Glade of Light is a memorial in Manchester City Centre created in memory of those who lost their lives during the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, in May 2017.

It was a family member of one of the victims who first informed authorities that the memorial had been damaged. Police attended and found some marks that appeared to have been etched into the marble halo.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) produced photographic evidence of the damage, and a video showing Hosseni causing damage to the memorial around 2am on the 8th February 2022.

Hosseni admitted that he had caused the damage but claimed he hadn’t intended to upset anyone and instead wanted to express love, unity and gratitude.

The damage has now been fixed at a cost of £10,768.80.

A family member of the victims said in a victim personal statement: “We take this upset very personally as the memorial represents our daughter and her boyfriend along with 20 others who were murdered in Manchester and we hoped her death would be respected by all and it’s more sadness and hurt we can do without.”

Caroline Wilbraham, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North West said:” The memorial is an important tribute for Manchester and the families of those who tragically lost their lives in the terrorist attack five years ago.

“I am appalled that anyone would damage the memorial, knowing what it represents.

“Thanks to the strength of evidence in this case, Hosseni accepted his guilt at an early stage. The CPS will robustly prosecute those who commit appalling offences like this, that affect the whole community.”